Manchester Airport breaks January trend with bumper passenger figures

Manchester Airport saw its footfall levels soar last month after serving close to 1.5m passengers.

January saw passenger numbers leap year on year by 7.8% to 1,415,735, with Dubai, Tenerife and Palma revealed as some of the most popular destinations.

Bosses at the airport, which is the third-busiest in the UK, have partly attributed the growth to the increased number of destinations available. Earlier this week, Irish carrier Ryanair announced plans to launch three new routes from Manchester to Germany.

Ken O’Toole, the managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “January is usually a quieter month following the busy Christmas period however the increase in passenger numbers this January highlights that more people have opted to take a post-Christmas break.

“Popular routes during the month included long haul favourites, like Dubai, as people sought out some sun.”

He added: “We expect February to be a busy month also as couples jet off on romantic weekend breaks to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Plus half term sees many families hitting the slopes across Europe.”

Air freight at Manchester Airport likewise saw a bumper January, increasing year on year by 3% with 7,200 tonnes carried.

Speaking further, Ken commented: “Connecting the North to the rest of the world is our priority as we continue to significantly strengthen our route network.

“With a large catchment area and northern based businesses booming, the more attractive it is to airlines to add a new flight from Manchester.”

Last week, MPs debated Manchester Airport’s prominent role in the government’s vision of creating a true Northern Powerhouse.

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