Award announced early October 2026. Applies to Cardiff Airport, Wales, UK. Passenger figure and finalist list as reported by the two cited sources.
What the award recognises
The Travel For Every Body Awards, organised by Selling Travel and now in their second year, celebrate organisations driving accessible and inclusive travel. Winners are chosen by an independent panel of accessibility specialists, advocates and travel industry experts. Cardiff Airport's Special Assistance team took the Airport category ahead of Liverpool John Lennon, Manchester Airport, Orlando International Airport and Victoria International Airport — a shortlist that mixes UK regional airports with major hubs in the US and Canada. The announcement was made in early October 2026.
32,540 passengers in twelve months
Cardiff Airport's terminal manager Angela Hewitson said the team supported more than 32,540 passengers over the past twelve months, a significant increase on the previous year. The special assistance team guides passengers with mobility or accessibility needs through the terminal, from arrival to boarding. Hewitson described the award as recognition of the team's professionalism, compassion and commitment, and of the difference they make to thousands of journeys each year.
Why a smaller airport can win this
The result underlines an often-overlooked point about airport accessibility: smaller regional airports can outperform big hubs on the measures that matter to disabled passengers. Shorter distances, smaller teams and fewer handovers make the whole journey more manageable, and independent panels notice. The award also lands against a sobering backdrop — the National Centre for Accessible Transport found that 92% of disabled people surveyed face barriers when travelling, from poor assistance to inaccessible infrastructure and unreliable accessibility information. For passengers in south Wales deciding where to book their next flight, an independently judged award for assistance quality is a practical piece of information, not just a trophy.
