The short answer
Helicopter charter Cardiff clients can fly from Cardiff Heliport in Cardiff Bay, about two miles from the centre, or from Cardiff Airport at Rhoose, which is open 24 hours with customs on site. From the heliport Bristol is about 15 minutes, Cheltenham 25 to 35, Birmingham 40 to 50 and London about 50 to 65 minutes. We arrange permission with your booking.
Flying from Cardiff? Tell us where and when; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- City heliport
- Cardiff Heliport, Foreshore Road, Tremorfa, Cardiff Bay, about 2 miles from the centre
- Heliport hours (as published, checked 29 Sep 2026)
- 09:00 to 18:00 daily, 09:00 to 17:00 in winter; closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
- Airport
- Cardiff Airport, Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan; 24 hours, runway 2,354 m
- Customs
- On site at the airport (24 hours); not a customs port at the heliport, so international flights need advance filing
- Prior permission
- All heliport movements are by permission; we arrange it
- Distance between the two
- About 8.8 nautical miles
- Flagship journey
- Cardiff Heliport to London in about 50 to 65 minutes by helicopter against 3 hours 3 minutes by road
Where Cardiff flights start and end
The map shows Cardiff Airport and the other sites that serve Cardiff, with range rings and the nearest cities. Pins with a page of their own are links.
The map draws a satellite picture, so it needs JavaScript and an internet connection. Cardiff Airport is at Cardiff Airport, Rhoose, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan. Open it in Google Maps.
Cardiff Airport
Choose a place
Hover, or tap, a pin for the details
Sites that serve Cardiff
Hours, permission and customs are the airport's or site's published information, checked 29 Sept 2026. We arrange permission and confirm times with your booking.
Cardiff Airport EGFF / CWL
- Address
- Cardiff Airport, Rhoose, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
- 24 hours (airport, customs and immigration); no night curfew.
- Permission
- Check before you fly: we confirm it with your booking
- Customs
- Yes – on site
- Runway
- 12/30 – 2,354 m × 45 m asphalt (grooved)
Cardiff Heliport EGFC
- Address
- Cardiff Heliport, Foreshore Road, Tremorfa, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff
- Hours as published (checked 29 Sept 2026)
09:00–18:00 seven days a week (09:00–17:00 winter); closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; out-of-hours…
09:00–18:00 seven days a week (09:00–17:00 winter); closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; out-of-hours movements subject to confirmation by the duty manager- Permission
- Prior permission required (PPR): we arrange it with your flight
- Customs
- By arrangement
All movements PPR – booked by Charter-A with your flight. Not a designated customs port – international flights need a GAR filed in advance.
Official websiteOpen in Google Maps
Which site is best for a helicopter in Cardiff?
For helicopter charter Cardiff trips it depends on the job. Cardiff Heliport is on Foreshore Road in Cardiff Bay, about two miles from the city centre, with a lounge, a VIP lounge and a conference room. It is open 09:00 to 18:00 every day (09:00 to 17:00 in winter) and closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Out-of-hours movements depend on the duty manager. It is not a designated customs port, so international trips need a general aviation report filed in advance.
Cardiff Airport at Rhoose is Wales's national airport, 8.8 nautical miles away. It runs 24 hours, has customs and immigration on site, and a 2,354 metre runway that handles jets. Handling is mandatory for aircraft over two tonnes. We use it for early starts, late finishes and any trip that crosses a border.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has been arranging private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011, including many to South Wales.
Journey times from Cardiff Airport
The nearest places first, with the helicopter time against the car, taken from our route data.
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 23 nm (27 mi) | 15 to 20 min | 1 h 29 min (63 mi) | 1 h 11 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 57 nm (65 mi) | 30 to 35 min | 1 h 47 min (85 mi) | 1 h 14 min |
| Southampton | 79 nm (91 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 57 min (146 mi) | 2 h 12 min |
| Oxford | 80 nm (92 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 38 min (125 mi) | 1 h 53 min |
| Birmingham | 87 nm (100 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 38 min (129 mi) | 1 h 53 min |
| Silverstone | 96 nm (110 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 3 h 04 min (148 mi) | 2 h 14 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 100 nm (115 mi) | 45 to 60 min | 2 h 45 min (139 mi) | 1 h 52 min |
| Goodwood | 103 nm (118 mi) | 50 to 60 min | 3 h 33 min (180 mi) | 2 h 38 min |
| London Heathrow | 108 nm (124 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 2 h 57 min (153 mi) | 1 h 59 min |
| Epsom Downs | 116 nm (133 mi) | 55 to 65 min | 3 h 18 min (166 mi) | 2 h 18 min |
| Liverpool | 118 nm (135 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 4 h 08 min (209 mi) | 3 h 05 min |
| London | 119 nm (136 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 22 min (165 mi) | 2 h 19 min |
| London Gatwick | 119 nm (137 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 3 h 34 min (184 mi) | 2 h 31 min |
| Manchester | 124 nm (142 mi) | 55 to 70 min | 4 h 02 min (191 mi) | 2 h 59 min |
| Aintree Racecourse | 126 nm (145 mi) | 60 to 70 min | 4 h 10 min (217 mi) | 3 h 05 min |
| Cambridge | 139 nm (160 mi) | 65 to 80 min | 4 h 14 min (221 mi) | 3 h 01 min |
| Newmarket Racecourse | 148 nm (170 mi) | 65 to 85 min | 4 h 19 min (226 mi) | 3 h 04 min |
| Leeds | 160 nm (185 mi) | 70 to 90 min | 4 h 57 min (253 mi) | 3 h 37 min |
| York Racecourse | 174 nm (200 mi) | 75 to 95 min | 4 h 50 min (255 mi) | 3 h 25 min |
| Norwich | 187 nm (216 mi) | 80 to 100 min | 5 h 28 min (280 mi) | 3 h 58 min |
| Newcastle | 227 nm (261 mi) | 1 h 40 min to 2 h | 6 h 39 min (339 mi) | 4 h 49 min |
Times from Cardiff Heliport
| To | Distance | Helicopter | By road | Typical saving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 8.8 nm (10 mi) | 10 to 15 min | 27 min (16 mi) | 14 min |
| Bristol | 17 nm (19 mi) | 15 to 15 min | 1 h 10 min (48 mi) | 55 min |
| Cheltenham Racecourse | 48 nm (55 mi) | 25 to 35 min | 1 h 28 min (70 mi) | 58 min |
| Oxford | 71 nm (82 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 19 min (110 mi) | 1 h 39 min |
| Southampton | 74 nm (85 mi) | 35 to 45 min | 2 h 39 min (131 mi) | 1 h 59 min |
| Birmingham | 78 nm (90 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 20 min (115 mi) | 1 h 35 min |
| Silverstone | 87 nm (100 mi) | 40 to 50 min | 2 h 46 min (133 mi) | 2 h 01 min |
| Ascot Racecourse | 92 nm (106 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 2 h 27 min (124 mi) | 1 h 37 min |
| Goodwood | 97 nm (112 mi) | 45 to 55 min | 3 h 14 min (165 mi) | 2 h 24 min |
| London Heathrow | 100 nm (115 mi) | 45 to 60 min | 2 h 39 min (138 mi) | 1 h 46 min |
| Epsom Downs | 108 nm (125 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 2 h 59 min (151 mi) | 2 h 01 min |
| London | 111 nm (127 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 03 min (150 mi) | 2 h 05 min |
| London Gatwick | 112 nm (129 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 15 min (169 mi) | 2 h 17 min |
| Liverpool | 113 nm (129 mi) | 50 to 65 min | 3 h 50 min (194 mi) | 2 h 52 min |
Helicopter figures are typical block times: distance at 135 knots plus 8 minutes, shown as a range. Road figures are free-flowing road times, a floor that real journeys rarely beat. Distances are in a straight line. Figures from our UK route data, checked 29 Sep 2026.
How quickly can you get out of Cardiff by helicopter?
From the heliport, Bristol is about 15 minutes by helicopter and 1 hour 10 minutes by road. Cheltenham takes 25 to 35 minutes against 1 hour 28 minutes. Oxford is 35 to 45 minutes against 2 hours 19 minutes, and Birmingham 40 to 50 minutes against 2 hours 20 minutes.
London is typically 50 to 65 minutes against 3 hours 3 minutes in free-flowing traffic. Heathrow is 45 to 60 minutes against 2 hours 39 minutes, and Ascot 45 to 55 minutes against 2 hours 27 minutes. Road times are a minimum, and the M4 and the Severn crossings often make journeys longer. See London helicopter transfers and the London Heliport in Battersea for the central arrival.
Why charter a helicopter in Cardiff?
Cardiff is the seat of the Welsh Government and the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, and a base for financial services, media, and public bodies. The Principality Stadium in the city centre hosts international rugby, football and major concerts. Business visitors to Cardiff, and Cardiff executives moving between Bristol, Cheltenham and London, find the helicopter fits a diary that is otherwise ruled by the M4. See business helicopter charter and same-day business trips.
Race days at Cheltenham are within reach, 25 to 35 minutes from the heliport; see helicopter charter to Cheltenham and Silverstone. Welsh estates and sporting lodges also host shooting parties; read shooting by helicopter.
Wales and the neighbours
Cardiff has several close neighbours. Bristol is a short hop: see helicopter charter Bristol. To the west, Swansea is in a different position at the moment, with its airport licence suspended. The country-wide picture is on the Wales region page, and the sites of South Wales are in the Wales, Northern Ireland and islands directory.
Booking from Cardiff
Send date, route and passenger weights. We pick the site, arrange permission and send timings. Arrive 10 minutes before departure with luggage in soft bags where the hold is small. Landing at a private site, hotel or venue is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing. For prices see helicopterhireprices.co.uk.
Nearby airfields and heliports
Other sites close to Cardiff Airport, with the distance in nautical miles. Chips with a link open that site's own page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a heliport in Cardiff?
Yes. Cardiff Heliport is in Cardiff Bay on Foreshore Road, about two miles from the centre. Every movement is by prior permission and we arrange it.
What are the opening hours at Cardiff Heliport?
09:00 to 18:00 daily, 09:00 to 17:00 in winter, closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Checked on 29 September 2026.
Can I fly from Cardiff to London by helicopter?
Yes, in typically 50 to 65 minutes, against about 3 hours by road.
Does Cardiff Heliport have customs?
No. It is not a designated customs port. For international trips we use Cardiff Airport, which has customs on site 24 hours a day.
Can a jet use Cardiff Airport?
Yes. The 2,354 metre runway takes jets from light to long-range. See charter-private-jet.com.
How long is Cardiff to Bristol by helicopter?
About 15 minutes from the heliport, against 1 hour 10 minutes by road.
