Skiers and sunseekers keep Manchester Airport growing

MANCHESTER Airport has continued its recent growth into the new year, with a 4.3% rise in passenger numbers in January.

The rise last month to 1.2 million was the 20th consecutive month of year-on-year increases, and was boosted by both winter sunseekers and skiers amid an improving economy.

Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer at MAG, parent company of Manchester Airport, said: “January is usually a quieter month following the busy Christmas period however the increase in passenger numbers this January highlights that more people have opted to take a post-Christmas break.

“Popular routes during the month included favourites like Dubai, Alicante and Tenerife as people sought out some sun after poor weather in the UK, as well as the return of the Winter Olympics seeing the rise of ski traffic, with Geneva topping the most popular winter destination list.”

MAG is expecting this month to be boosted by weekend breaks to Paris and Venice for St Valentin’s Day and families escaping the bad weather for the first half term holiday of the year.