CARDIFF Airport helped airlift 2,000 Welsh rugby supporters to Rome last weekend for the Six Nation's fixture.

Around 1,200 passengers flew out on Thursday, including the Welsh Rugby Team and WRU representatives. The remainder left on Friday.

Nine aircraft were chartered by local travel companies including John Cory Sports Travel, Travel City Sports, Robert Davies Sports Travel and WRU Travel Services.

Brewer SA Brain, the official sponsor of the Welsh rugby team, decked the airport with banners, posters and bunting and kitted-out bar staff with Welsh jerseys.

Airport managing director Jon Horne said: "International rugby airlifts are always major occasions at Cardiff Airport and the atmosphere is absolutely buzzing.

Brains' marketing manager, Stewart Dobson said: "Following the superb atmosphere in Cardiff during last weekend's game we wanted to ensure the fans didn't feel that they were leaving it all behind when they flew out to Italy."

Meanwhile, more than £3,800 was raised last week in a tsunami appeal quiz night organised by the airport in conjunction with Cardiff Hilton Hotel. Hosted by Radio Wales presenter Jon Dee, the evening attracted over 240 people.

Prizes included a holiday in Majorca, two Air Wales tickets, a night at the Hilton, St. Davids and Holland House hotels and signed Ospreys and Cardiff City shirts.

Jon Horne said: "The aim of the evening was to encourage our partners to continue with the fundraising effort as this is an on-going issue which will not be resolved overnight.

"We are delighted with the amount of money raised and hope that our contribution will make a difference.

"We would like to thank all those organisations who provided us with great prizes, and the individuals who took part in the quiz."

Teams included the Wales Tourist Board, the Assembly, bmibaby, Cardiff council, National Air Traffic and Caxton Facilities Management.