Airport passenger numbers soaring at 28 MILLION

FOR the first time in its history, Manchester Airport is celebrating hitting 28 million passengers milestone.

In its 80th year, more than 2.5 million passengers used the airport last month, an increase of six per cent on the same month last year.

That brought the rolling annual total to a record 28,022,344 passengers.

Numbers were bolstered by the October half-term, with many families getting away for an autumn break.

Last week also saw the launch of the only direct service to Mumbai – outside of London – as Jet Airways began flights.

The five-a-week service had its inaugural flight on November 5 and left the airport 96 per cent full.

Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.com have all added capacity to their winter schedules, which will continue to bolster overall passenger numbers. Plus, the north will soon have a direct route to the heart of Africa as Ethiopian Airlines start flights to Addis Ababa next month.

October also saw the airport celebrate three major milestones on its £1bn transformation programme.

Firstly, a topping out ceremony was held to mark the extension to Terminal Two – reaching its highest point after just more than a year of construction.

Secondly, a 45-metre, 85-tonne bridge that will connect the terminal extension with the new multistorey car park was lifted into place.

Finally, the main structural work has also been completed on the car park building and will be fully completed by the middle of next year.

Andrew Cowan, Manchester Airport CEO, said: “Hitting 28 million passengers is another significant milestone for the airport.

“Our growth means more choice for passengers, more jobs for people across the north and more economic and trade opportunities as we connect Manchester with key global destinations.

“All this is being delivered as we press ahead with the biggest investment in our history, which will not only transform our terminal buildings, but the experience our customers enjoy as they travel through Manchester.

“That’s why it was also great to celebrate three major milestones in October, which brought to life how quickly our airlines and passengers will start to experience the benefits the transformation project will deliver to them.”