Regional and City Airports sees strong summer passenger growth
Regional and City Airports (RCA) Group, operator of regional airports in the UK, has posted robust growth in passenger numbers during the April to October summer period.
Image courtesy RCA
The group, which owns and operates Bournemouth Airport, Norwich Airport and Exeter Airport, recorded almost 1.5 million passengers during the summer months, up from 1.31 million in the same period last year - an increase of 13.4%.
The summer growth builds on a 15% rise in passenger numbers reported for the year ending March 2024.
Bournemouth Airport led the increase with a 14% surge, welcoming 840,210 summer passengers, up by 103,000 compared to the previous year. The increase positions the airport to surpass one million passengers in 2024, a milestone not achieved since 2008.
Contributing factors include TUI’s expansion, which added a second aircraft and 60,000 additional seats this summer, as well as the continued growth of Ryanair's 20-route network.
RCA is currently investing in Bournemouth Airport's infrastructure to prepare for Jet2 and Jet2holidays’ new operations. Starting in February 2025, Jet2 will launch 20 routes from Bournemouth with two aircraft, followed by a third aircraft for summer 2026.
Norwich Airport saw a significant 23% increase in passenger numbers, reaching 316,000 for the summer. The growth was driven by Ryanair’s first-ever routes from Norwich to Alicante, Faro and Malta, which collectively attracted 63,000 passengers, surpassing the initial forecast of 60,000. The success has prompted Ryanair to continue the Alicante route through winter 2024 and maintain all three routes next summer.
Exeter Airport also experienced positive growth, recording a 5% rise to 338,000 passengers. This was boosted by a new Ryanair service to Palma and is expected to accelerate next year with the introduction of a second TUI aircraft and 80,000 additional seats, along with new routes and increased frequency on many services.
Andrew Bell (above), Chief Executive of RCA, commented: “These results highlight the strength of regional airports in providing essential choice and convenience to their local communities. Our airports have continued to innovate and adapt and this growth reflects the dedication and resilience of our teams. We’re proud to see such strong performance across the board.”
All three RCA airports were ranked among the top six UK airports for customer service in a national survey published this summer, delivering a superior experience compared to larger airports.
In addition to its airports, RCA holds a management contract for Solent Airport and owns XLR Executive Jet Centres at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter, and Liverpool.
RCA - which owns and operates Bournemouth Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport and holds a management contract for Solent Airport - is part of Rigby Group plc, the 12th largest family-owned business in the UK, with a consolidated turnover of £3.5 billion. For the year to March 2024, RCA saw pre-tax profits soar to £14.24 million from £1.31 million on the back of a 20% rise in revenue.