LJLA prepares to welcome five millionth passenger during holiday period

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) expects to welcome its five millionth passenger this year during the festive season as it prepares for the traditional Christmas and New Year ‘getaway’.

The airport will handle more than 140,000 passengers, and with passenger numbers on the increase throughout 2018 it said annual numbers are set to reach their highest in seven years.

LJLA is expecting more than 4,000 more travellers to pass through the airport over the Christmas and New Year period compared with the previous year – a 3% increase on 2017.

This Friday is expected to be the one of busiest days with around 15,000 passengers departing and arriving at LJLA.

As schools finish for Christmas towards the end of this week, families from across the region are expected to head off on flights over the holiday period with passengers travelling to a mix of destinations in search of some much-needed Winter sun, to go skiing, visit relatives, or looking for Christmas and New Year festivities across a range of European cities.

The airport will once again be helping passengers get into the festive mood on Friday with a Christmas DJ, face painters and Father Christmas finding time during his busy schedule to meet with passengers, young and old.

Popular flights over the coming days are expected to be Winter ski destinations such as Geneva, and Tenerife for some warmer Winter weather, while closer to home flights between Liverpool and Dublin, Belfast and the Isle of Man will be among the busiest with passengers travelling to be with friends and families.

LJLA management is once again keen to remind all passengers to allow plenty of time to pass through the airport during this busy period and that restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage are still in place.

Passengers are also reminded to think carefully about what items they are intending to pack in hand luggage before they set off for the airport – especially those who are travelling with presents for friends and relatives.

To avoid disappointment at the security search point and to help keep security queues to a minimum, passengers are being asked to travel with their presents unwrapped if they are to be carried in hand luggage.

Robin Tudor, head of PR for LJLA, said: “The Christmas and New Year period is one of our busiest times of the year and we expect this year to be one of the busiest for some time, as thousands of passengers from across the region take advantage of the convenience of flying via Liverpool, without any of the hassle.

“We pride ourselves for being faster, easier and friendlier and would like to remind all passengers to allow plenty of time, come prepared and think carefully about what you are carrying in your hand luggage.”