| 1940s | Land was requisitioned by the Air Ministry in the Vale of Glamorgan to establish a satellite aerodrome and training base for the RAF Spitfire pilots.
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| 1942 | Official beginning of the airport when the No 53 Operational Training Unit took over the airfield.
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| 1952 | Aer Lingus began commercial service to Dublin.
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| 1962 | A new terminal building was established and flights began to France, Belfast and Cork. The passenger throughput was more than 100,000 that year.
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| 1965 | The Ministry of Defence ceded control of Cardiff Airport to Glamorgan County Council.
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| 1971 | The first transatlantic flight from Cardiff took off.
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| 1970s | The Terminal Building and Control Tower were fully developed, and the main runway was doubled in length to 7000 feet, allowing for service to wide-bodied aircraft. It was during this time that the ownership of Cardiff Airport was transferred to the three County Councils of South, Mid and West Glamorgan.
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| 1986 | The runway was extended 750 feet more to be available for even more business. The cost was around one million pounds. This extension attracted a British Airways maintenance facility to Cardiff. Their maintenance hangar was one of the largest in the world.
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| 1990s | Manx Airline established daily service to major business destinations in Europe and the UK by opening their European Air Route Hub at Cardiff Airport.
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| 1992 | The airport’s Golden Jubilee Anniversary was celebrated along with a special program to mark 50 years of flying from Cardiff. This gala was attended by HRH Princess Alexandra who unveiled a commemorative plaque.
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| 1993 | Major expansions this year included redevelopment of the landside forecourt area, road improvements, a new security access point and the expansion and modernisation of the International Departures Lounge.
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| 1994 | This year marked the attainment of the one million passenger mark for this airport.
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| 1995 | The Airport Company was privatised. Shares were sold to a Welsh property and development company, TBI plc. The new name for the airport is Cardiff International Airport now.
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| 2002 | British Airways withdrew their routes from Cardiff International Airport, making way for low-cost carriers to enter the Cardiff market.
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| 2006 | Air Wales stopped their flights. Most of their routes transferred to other carriers.
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