Airport revamp will give travellers a brighter welcome to Wales

Business and leisure travellers arriving at Cardiff Airport can expect a brighter welcome and better first impression of Wales thanks to a Welsh Government-funded scheme to improve visitor experience at the terminal.

Work is underway on an innovative and creative scheme to revamp inward-bound walkways and public areas of Cardiff Airport with art and multimedia installations to give travellers a bright welcome celebrating and promoting Wales’ vibrant culture, heritage, landscape, products and businesses. This content will vary and be refreshed over the course of the three-year project.

The project is one component of the wider activity recommended by the Cardiff Airport Taskforce, established by the First Minister, to look at ways of making the airport more competitive and realise its potential. The work was agreed prior to the Welsh Government’s purchase of the Airport last month.

The project will run for three years and will include regular updates to keep the installations and displays current and fresh. Cardiff-based agency Golley Slater has been appointed to deliver the project and, through Chapter, have sourced local Welsh-based artists to work on the installations.

Minister for Economy, Edwina Hart, said: “First impressions are important. Cardiff Airport is a major gateway into Wales for air passengers and this new project will showcase a uniquely Welsh approach to business, culture, the arts, tourism and events.

“Whether here for business or pleasure, we want people to see the best Wales has to offer and get their visit off to a real flying start.

”Although this project will form just a small part of our wider work to improve facilities and services at Cardiff Airport, it should make a big impact with our visitors as they arrive in Wales.”

Jon Horne, Chief Executive at Cardiff Airport said: “I am delighted to see this project underway as we recognise the importance of the welcome to visitors. Equally as important is the welcome home for Welsh travellers and the sense of pride we can ignite in being back on Welsh soil at their national airport.

“We have worked closely with the Welsh Government to ensure the project has a real impact on the passenger journey and is part of our ongoing commitment to improving the customer experience.”

Matt Appleby, of Golley Slater, who have won the tender to deliver the work, said: “Instead of just using words and pictures to tell the story of Wales to visitors at the airport we are using light, sound, touch, art and multimedia installations. We have worked with Chapter Arts Centre to bring new works of art to the airport’s spaces which provide a lively welcome and celebrate our culture, creativity, language and heritage.”