Airports prepare for busy Xmas getaway, with passenger levels forecast to rise

Both Manchester Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) are preparing for a busy Christmas holiday getaway period, with most school holidays across the North West due to start at the end of this week.

Manchester says 1.1 million passengers are due to pass through the airport between Friday, December 20, and Friday, January 3, making it almost as busy as it is during the peak of the summer holidays.

The busiest single day is likely to be Friday, December 20. Between 70,000 and 90,000 passengers are expected each day between December 20, and January 3.

LJLA is gearing to handle more than 160,000 passengers over the festive and New Year holiday period – an increase of 12% compared with last year.

Families from across the region are expected to head off on flights over the holiday period to a host of destinations for a mix of winter sun or winter sports, while others will be travelling to visit friends or relatives over the festive period.

The most popular destinations from Manchester over the festive period are set to be Amsterdam, Dublin and Dubai.

Destinations from Liverpool likely to prove most popular include Belfast, Dublin, Isle of Man, Paris, Malaga, Alicante, Lanzarote, Prague and Tenerife.

Due to ongoing improvement works in LJLA’s security area, the airport is advising passengers to allow extra time to pass through security this Christmas as security processing may take a little longer at peak times.

As always at this time of year, airport management is keen to remind all passengers that restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage are still in place and 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.

Electrical items, such as tablets and laptops, must still be placed separately in trays provided along with liquids and gels up to a maximum 100ml and in small sealable transparent bags.

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, with items including Christmas crackers not permitted by most airlines.

Jennifer Byrne-Smith, Manchester Airport’s Customer Operations Director, said: “We’ve got extra staff in place over the next few weeks – including people who will be working to look after the 25,000 people due to fly on Christmas Day itself – so we’re confident that anyone coming through Manchester will be able to start their holidays as they mean to go on.”

Robin Tudor, Head of PR for LJLA, said “We’re all really looking forward to welcoming thousands of passengers through the airport over the festive period.

“We have a lot of building work taking place at present as we get ready for an even busier summer planned for next year, so we are asking passengers at peak periods to allow a little extra time to pass through compared to normal and to come prepared, thinking carefully about what they are carrying in their hand luggage, since restrictions remain in place.”

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