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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements