Liverpool Airport welcomes 4.3 million passengers, boosting annual revenues to £44m

Passenger numbers continue to rise at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA), helping to boost annual revenues by 14%.

It revealed it has achieved a 15% increase in passenger numbers in its latest financial year to March 31, 2024, handling 4.3 million customers.

This is now just 10% under its pre-pandemic passenger levels.

The rising passenger numbers have helped the airport increase revenue by 14% to £44.4m during the period. The airport has not revealed profit/loss figures.

The airport says it continues to play an increasing role in contributing to Liverpool’s growing tourism economy which, according to Liverpool City Region’s tourism industry, is now worth more than £6bn.

Rising passenger numbers have been driven by continued recovery of the travel sector and significant investment into the airport.

The investment and continued high performance of the airport is attracting new airlines, leading to new routes for customers and an overall improvement in the airport’s customer experience.

Last month, the company was named the UK’s best airport for the second year in a row, according to UK consumer rights champion Which? Best and Worst UK Airports survey for 2024 – as voted for by travellers.

In the past year, airline Jet2 has begun operating flights from LJLA, taking the number of based aircraft there to its highest ever. Following the immediate success of Jet2’s arrival, the airline has already expanded its programme of flights for summer 2025 from the airport, offering new routes across Europe.

The airport has also launched a £9m overhaul of its food and drink, retail and lounge facilities, introduced a new sensory space to help relax passengers with sensory or cognitive impairments and commenced plans to install new security scanners to streamline required checks.

These initiatives look to further enhance the airport experience for all customers. 

LJLA is also progressing plans to reduce its scope 1 and scope 2 emissions as part of its 2040 decarbonisation plan.

In the past year, the airport has obtained planning permission to install a solar farm on-site. The solar farm will generate up to 25% of the electricity the airport consumes each year.

Chief executive, John Irving, said: “We have continued to make significant improvements at Liverpool John Lennon Airport as we look to return to pre-Covid passenger numbers. Everyone who works at the airport is dedicated to providing our faster, friendlier, easier experience for all of our customers.

“We are actively exploring how we can better accommodate increasing passenger footfall while maintaining our high standards for customer service.”

He added: “We are also investing heavily in projects which will enable us to enhance the airport, maintain our compliance with the latest regulations and support our carbon reduction initiatives.”

LJLA’s continued growth journey has been enabled by its joint shareholders Ancala, a key infrastructure manager, the Peel Group and Liverpool City Council.

The Peel Group has been a principal shareholder and investor in the airport since 1997.

Since Ancala invested alongside Peel Group as part of a joint venture in 2019, LJLA has signed major new airlines and increased average customer spend. The airport has also brought in-house the fuel farm services provided to airlines.