Record-breaking figures ‘to continue’ as passenger numbers soar

The sharp and sustained rise in passenger numbers at Birmingham Airport has continued throughout the first quarter of 2017, with record growth expected to be maintained throughout the summer.

Even the timing of Easter, which fell in March last year, has not affected the growth. The airport has now recorded more than two years of consecutive monthly passenger growth.

More than 260,000 additional passengers used Birmingham Airport in the first three months of 2017 than a year earlier.

The 11.9% increase, to 2.48m, has put the airport within touching distance of a rolling average of 1m passengers per month. In the 12 months to March, it handled 11.90m people.

Paul Kehoe, chief executive officer at Birmingham Airport, said: “March was a very busy and significant month here at the airport. Not only did we see our twenty fifth consecutive month of growth but we also saw Jet2.com and Jet2 holidays launch and Qatar Airways celebrate its first anniversary.

“Eurowings also launched flights to Vienna and announced Salzburg, which will start in December. These additional airlines and routes along with the busy summer fast approaching means we only expect these record breaking figures to continue.”

In March, both long and short haul services saw significant growth. Long haul was up by 8.3% compared to March 2016 and short haul up by 9%.