Double celebration at LJLA for passenger numbers and on-time performance

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) said 2018 was another successful year in terms of passenger numbers and airport performance.

It broke the five million passenger mark, handling 5.1 million throughout the year, its highest level in seven years and a 3% increase on 2017.

And it achieved the UK’s best scheduled flight punctuality record.

The airport has seen growth in passenger numbers and services throughout 2018 with a number of new routes having started last year to a diverse mix of destinations, including Bergen, Dalaman, Iasi, Palermo, Paphos, Pula, Shannon and Toulouse.

LJLA now serves more than 70 destinations.

It has also continued to be one of the UK’s best performing airports, operationally.

The Punctuality League – a report published by OAG, the world’s leading air travel intelligence company – shows that Liverpool had the UK’s best on-time performance record in 2018, with more than 84% of arriving and departing flights operating within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival and departure time.

Liverpool has the seventh best record in the world when compared with airports of a similar size for scheduled flight on-time performance.

While passenger numbers and choice of destinations continue to rise, the airport experience for passengers continues to remain one of the UK’s best.

Queue times for passengers to go through airport security remained low throughout 2018, with 97% of passengers taking 10 minutes or less to pass through security and more than 80% taking less than five minutes.

The airport said 2019 is set to be another busy year, with new routes to Corfu, Copenhagen and Varna commencing in the Summer.

Chief executive John Irving said: “2018 has been another very good year for the airport and for the region’s air travellers too, with Liverpool now offering an even greater choice of destinations and a fantastic passenger experience.

“As an important gateway airport, Liverpool also benefits the city region, the North West and North Wales with an excellent passenger experience and improved connectivity, helping to attract more inward investment and boosting the region’s visitor economies.”