Manchester Airport announces record-breaking year
Manchester Airport flew 23.5million people in the last financial year, more than every before in its 78 years.
Passenger numbers for March were up 11% year on year to 1.74 million, although both domestic and charter traffic was down on March 2015.
The top five most popular routes were Dubai, Dublin, Amsterdam, Tenerife and Alicante.
MD Ken O’Toole said:~"The continued strong growth at Manchester Airport is incredibly positive and benefits not only the airport and our passengers, but the entire region.
"As we move into the summer season, we look forward to a host of new long haul routes starting, which will give our passengers more choice than ever before.
"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."
Growth was seen across all of airports owned by Manchester Airport Group in March. At Stansted Airport, numbers up 13.2%, with 1,892,166 passengers flown.
This increase has been driven by Ryanair’s growth and higher load factors, said MAG.
East Midlands Airport posted a 9.1% increase in passengers last month and at Bournemouth there was an 36% rise
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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