Airports Manchester Airport sees eight percent increase for April 2019

With an 8 percent year-on-year increase in its passenger numbers for April, Manchester Airport experiences yet another month of growth. It sees the annual passenger total to reach nearly 29 million for the first time.

Over the Easter holidays, the airport saw nearly 2.4 million people flying through the three terminals. Most popular destinations in April were Dublin, Amsterdam, Dubai, Tenerife and Alicante, stated the airport.

Andrew Cowan, CEO at Manchester Airport, said: “April has been another busy month at the airport, with passengers enjoying the Easter holidays across our 210-strong route network. Now in the summer season, we’re seeing passenger numbers, capacity and destination offerings grow across our three terminals and it’s set to be our busiest ever.

This continued growth demonstrates the importance of UK´s third largest airport. In the past month, Manchester saw new long-haul routes being inaugurated. Moreover, new carriers are now using state-of-the-art aircraft. For example, both Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific are using brand new Airbus A350-1000.

Other carriers are increasing capacity and are adding routes as well. Virgin Atlantic for example now flies from Manchester to Los Angeles, El Al to Tel Aviv, while low-cost carriers easyJet and leisure-carrier Thomas Cook Airline are operating the respective routes already.

Regarding the growth process, Cowan added: “Manchester Airport has the potential to play an even greater role in driving growth across the North and rebalancing the UK in the process. We urge Government to commit to schemes like HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, combining with our own commitment of £1bn investment, to make the North one of the world’s best-connected regions.”

Manchester Airport is the third largest airport in the UK and is being owned by the Manchester Airports Group. The airport functions as hub for Flybe and as focus city for easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, Thomas Cook Airlines, TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic and BA CityFlyer. Last year, the airport saw over 28.2 Million passengers and over 200.000 aircraft movements.