Dash for snow sees airport passenger numbers rise

Passenger numbers last month (January) at East Midlands Airport (EMA) grew by 1.2%, as holidaymakers flew off to skiing holidays.

The airport saw a footfall of just under 216,000 passengers compared with 213,450 during the same time last year. Ski routes were especially popular last month with Chambery and Bergamo (Italy) growing strongly.

Passengers were also jetting off to the sun in January. Flights to Faro in January were up 7.6% compared with the same time last year while Malaga, Alicante, and the Canaries are also popular destinations at this time of year. Those happy to travel slightly further afield for guaranteed sunshine, Egypt, Turkey and Cyprus are safe bets for winter warmth.

EMA’s cargo operation also continues to grow. Some 30,209 tonnes passed through the airport last month, an increase of 674 tonnes (+2.3%) compared with January 2019.

Karen Smart, East Midlands Airport’s managing director, said: “For many passengers in the region, and beyond, whether they’re seeking snow, sun or city breaks, East Midlands is their airport of choice. Our ideal location at the heart of the country with convenient access to the motorway network makes us the easy choice for many people hoping to jet off to Europe’s top holiday destinations for short breaks or longer holidays. We also continue to play a key role nationally in facilitating trade between the UK and countries all over the world.”