Manchester Airport passengers numbers top 25 million

Manchester Airport passenger numbers have hit 25 million for the first time following thirty one months of consecutive growth.

The lucky 25 millionth passenger from Liverpool has won flights to San Francisco which start next year

The UK’s 3rd largest airport has seen a string of new long haul routes and additional capacity on short haul services delivering 9.3% year-on-year growth and cementing its role in driving northern growth.

Manchester Airport’s role in driving the Northern Economy

Manchester Airport is plaing a key role in connecting the Northern economy – and wider UK – to key markets around the world, as well as bringing investors and tourists into the region from across the globe.

60% of all international business travelling to and from the North of England already pass through Manchester Airport, serving a catchment area stretching from North Wales in the west to Humberside in the east and up to the Scottish Borders.

More families using Manchester Airport

More families are choosing to fly from Manchester on one of their 210 routes. The top ten most popular international destinations over the last year were:

1. Amsterdam
2. Dublin
3. Dubai
4. Tenerife
5. Alicante
6. Palma
7. Malaga
8. Paris
9. Orlando
10. Faro

Manchester Airport passenger numbers hit 25m – Colette Roche, Deputy CEO Manchester Airport and
Christoph Debus, CEO Thomas Cook Airlines

Collette Roche, Deputy CEO of Manchester Airport, said: “We are really pleased to have hit this significant milestone and look forward to continuing to grow our passenger numbers.

“At a time when capacity in the South is constrained, we are adding more passengers and routes than ever before. In the last year alone we have launched flights to Houston, Beijing, Boston, to name a few, all of which can only be found at Manchester outside of London. This underpins the role we play in the North as the global entry point of the Northern Powerhouse and as economic provider and job creator.

“We have more than 22 million people living within two hours of Manchester Airport and our continued addition of new routes and increased frequencies is seeing both business and leisure customers choose Manchester, rather than other airports.” 

A £1bn transformation programme at Manchester Airport will continue to expand the available capacity and demand.  

Collette continued: “The growth can be attributed to a range of factors, mainly the addition of a wealth of new long haul routes and increasing capacity, and frequency, on short haul destinations. Direct flights to Hong Kong, Miami, Jeddah, Aruba, Boston, Los Angeles, Houston and Beijing were all launched in the last few years.  Routes have also been announced to Phuket, Mauritius, Goa, Tobago, Muscat, San Francisco and Cayo Coco for the rest of 2016 and summer 2017.”

The airport has also seen growth with low cost carriers with new destinations, enhanced winter programmes and additional based aircraft.

The 25 millionth passenger was Thomas Cooks Airlines customer Chris Stenson

Chris, from Crosby, Liverpool, received a wealth of prizes when he arrived for his flight to New York this morning.

Chris said: “I am absolutely delighted to be Manchester Airports 25 millionth passenger and what an incredible start to my flight to New York with Thomas Cook Airlines.”

Chris received a pair of return tickets to San Francisco from Thomas Cook Airlines the airlines newest route from Manchester Airport, which launches in May next year. He also had access to Manchester Airports Escape Lounge, plus FastTrack passes. 

Thomas Cook Airlines has recently launched new routes to Los Angeles, Boston and Tobago from Manchester Airport.

Chief Airlines Officer for Thomas Cook Group, Christoph Debus, said: “We are delighted to have contributed to Manchester Airport passenger numbers reaching the 25m mark with our double digit growth in Manchester this year.

“These lucky customers are just two out of more than one million long haul passengers who will fly with us in the next 12 months. With our 17 long haul destinations from Manchester, we are the largest long haul carrier in the North, offering excellent and award winning service at the lowest fares.”

The airport is set for continued growth with capacity for Manchester Airport passenger numbers to reach 55m on its two full length runways. Last year a ten year £1bn transformation programme was announced to transform the terminals to ensure they can continue to handle the demand and future growth, as more passengers and airlines choose to fly from Manchester.