Cardiff Airport has been rated 'very good' in the UK Civil Aviation Authority's annual Airport Accessibility Report for 2025/26, a higher score than London Heathrow and London Stansted. The report assesses assistance services for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility.
Record demand for assistance
The UK Civil Aviation Authority reported that demand for assistance reached record levels, with 5.9 million passengers using assistance services at UK airports in 2025, growing faster than overall passenger numbers. Since 2015, requests for assistance have increased by 115.8%, compared with overall passenger growth of 23.9%.
A 'very good' rating is the highest ranking an airport can receive from the authority. Of the 28 airports assessed, 19 were rated 'very good' and nine were rated 'good', including Heathrow and Stansted.
Cardiff's practices praised
The authority said: "Cardiff Airport consistently achieved very close to or 100% against waiting time standards during the reporting year. They also recorded strong survey scores above 4.5, demonstrating consistent delivery of assistance services."
The report highlighted Cardiff's free-of-charge, fully accessible, landside minibus transfer service operated by the Special Assistance team, which accommodates passengers with reduced mobility.
Industry-wide progress
Anna Bowles, head of consumer protection at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: "The progress made in improving airport accessibility over the last decade is encouraging. Through our annual assessments, we have challenged airports to raise standards, increase transparency and focus on the needs of disabled passengers."
She added: "The fact that no airport was rated 'Needs Improvement' or 'Poor' this year is welcome, but we cannot be complacent. Some disabled passengers still face difficulties when travelling, and with demand for assistance services continuing to rise, airports must continue to invest in assistance services."
