Manchester Airport reports best July ever

Last month was the busiest July ever recorded at Manchester Airport, with bosses partially attributing the increase in passenger numbers to this summer’s wet weather.

The airport reported a year-on-year increase in passenger traffic of 6.1%, with 2,557,327 people using the facility in July. At the same time, the month set a new high with a rolling annual total of more than 22.6m passengers.

Ken O’Toole, the airport’s MD, said: “The wet weather in July combined with additional capacity we have this summer across Europe and long-haul to destinations in the USA, Hong Kong and to the Middle East has given Manchester Airport a fantastic boost and we are well on track for our best and busiest summer ever.

“With over 22m people living within our two-hour catchment, two full length runways and all-time record passenger numbers, Manchester Airport has, and will continue to have, the available capacity and demand to meet the needs of our catchment that extends as far north as Scotland and South to the Midlands.”

Elsewhere, the total number of scheduled international flights was 8.7% higher than last year, while charter traffic increased by 3%.

In addition to the rain-drenched start to the summer across the region, the growth has also been attributed to expanded services at the airport, including additional flights being offered to New York and Miami launching as a new destination.

Manchester Airport has also seen an increase of 11% in the number of private jets taking off from its runways, with footballers from the region taking advantage of their leave before the new Premier League season.

Air freight handled at the facility rose for the sixth month in a row, with the total amount in July hitting 8,856 tonnes, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%.