Hainan Airlines Airbus A340-600 B-6509
Image Source: BriYYZ

Bumper March rounds off record year at Manchester Airport

A bumper March at Manchester Airport drove the site’s annual passenger levels to a record high.

The airport’s passenger figures grew 11% year on year to hit 1.74m in March, bringing its total for the previous financial year to 23.5m – the highest for any 12-month period in its 78-year history.

Furthermore, aircraft movements at the country’s third-busiest airport rose to 13,736, which is 883 more than in March 2015. According to data, the five most popular international destinations with holidaymakers and business travellers were Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam, Tenerife and Alicante.

The growth figures have been attributed to new routes added over the last year, as well as increases in frequency and capacity on its existing services.

In addition to the flights now connecting the North to Miami and Hong Kong, Manchester Airport will this year see a number of other international destinations added to its long-haul portfolio, including Los Angeles, Boston, Beijing, Mauritius and Phuket.

Manchester Airport’s managing director, Ken O’Toole, said he believes the growth benefits not only the airport and its passengers, but also the economy of the wider region.

He commented: “As new routes come to fruition and passenger numbers increase, in turn jobs are created and inbound tourism spend is injected into the region.

“Manchester Airport currently generates £1.7bn in value for the North West, supports 21.5k jobs on site and a further 45k indirectly and we are confident of driving more growth in the years to come.”

He continued: “This financial year, we will see services to Beijing, with Hainan Airlines plus Los Angeles and Boston, with Thomas Cook, begin. Plus next financial year San Francisco and Boston, with Virgin Atlantic, will launch.

“Such services are sure to prove popular with leisure travellers, as well as delivering a boost to businesses wanting access to these key markets and, as the year progresses, we look forward to securing yet more vital routes for passengers across the North.”

The airport’s owner, Manchester Airports Group, saw growth across all its facilities in March. Passenger numbers at London Stansted Airport rose by 13.2% to just under 1.9m, while East Midlands Airport saw growth of 9.1% and Bournemouth 35.8%.

Don’t miss our conversation with Manchester Airport MD Ken O’Toole on transport, investment and realising the Northern Powerhouse.

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