Wizz Air has cancelled plans to launch flights from Cardiff at the end of this month.

Just 24 hours after announcing the flights would start on 30 July it said it was postponing opening its base in Wales until next summer.

In a statement, Wizz said: “As a result of the ongoing Covid-19 related travel restrictions, and ever changing quarantine measures in place across the UK and Europe, it is with regret that we have had to take the difficult but responsible decision to further postpone the opening of our new Cardiff base until summer 2022 to give our customers, employees and business partners certainty during this difficult time.

“This has not been an easy decision and we understand the disappointment our customers in South Wales will be feeling.”

The low-cost airline said it remained committed to expanding in the UK.

“Despite the ever changing and inconsistent government travel regulations, with three new bases and over 60 new routes in the UK announced in the past year alone, together with the arrival of four brand new A321NEO aircraft, Wizz Air remains committed to long-term growth in the UK, creating hundreds of direct new jobs while also stimulating the tourism and hospitality industries,” it said.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this further delay might have caused to our customers. We remain dedicated and look forward to opening our fourth UK base at Cardiff Airport and to welcoming passengers onboard our young and green aircraft fleet next summer.”