Manchester Airport passenger numbers grow 15.2% in November
Manchester Airport today released figures showing the numbers of passengers using the airport in November grew by over 220,000 passengers (15.2%) year on year, with numbers expecrted to travel through the airport during the peak Christmas travel period - from Friday 23rd December to Monday 2nd January - amounting to 640,125 passengers, a 22% year-on-year increase.
The figures, coupled with a similar 14.5% growth in cargo tonnage at Manchester, will be seen as further proof of the importance of the airport’s key role in the growing Northern Powerhouse and in driving economic growth across the country.
The increase in passenger numbers at the UK’s third biggest airport is a result of increased European capacity from the likes of Ryanair and Monarch, coupled with new non-stop long haul routes that have started over the last year, to destinations as diverse as Houston, Beijing and Singapore. The airport continues to have ample capacity to grow further on its two full length runways. The airport has also successfully weathered the effect of reduced demand to Turkey and North Africa by flying more passengers than ever to Spain and The Canaries.
Manchester’s growing list of direct long haul links is of particular value to specific sectors of the economy who value the rapid global access to export markets and investment that such routes bring.
Tim Hawkins, Corporate Affairs Director at MAG, who this week attended a summit in Liverpool hosted by the Northern Powerhouse Minister, said: "Manchester Airport is the North's primary international gateway and we know our continued growth is important to people living and working in all Northern regions.
“The importance of a strong Northern economy is more widely acknowledged than ever before and there is no doubt that the Northern Powerhouse vision has already shown the world that the North is both an attractive place to visit and to do business with. So it is particularly welcome that the Government is continuing its focus on the Northern Powerhouse. It is important we make the most of the airport’s ability to attract inward investment to the region; and also focus on improving access to Manchester Airport for passengers and businesses right across the North.”
Elsewhere in the Group, London Stansted Airport continued to grow its importance in the London system, with November traffic up 2.3% year on year.
East Midlands Airport saw a fall in passenger traffic, owing to a series of weekend runway closures throughout November. While passenger numbers were consequently down 16.1% in November, these figures were still ahead of target for the month.
Bournemouth Airport saw an 11.5% fall in traffic owing to Flybe’s withdrawal from the airport since this time last year.