Manchester Airport passenger numbers back to pre-pandemic levels

Manchester Airport passenger figures have soaring back to pre-pandemic levels, with a substantial increase in revenue reported. For the year ending March 31, the airport welcomed 28.8 million passengers, marking a 14.3 per cent rise from the previous year.

Last October's passenger count surpassed that of the same month in the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Manchester Airport Group Investments Limited has released its annual financial report, just over a week following a power outage at the airport that led to extensive issues and numerous flight cancellations.

The financial outcomes reveal a revenue boost to £1.2bn - a 20.5pc increase from the year prior, with passenger growth seen across all three airports under its management - Manchester, Stansted, and East Midlands.

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The group's operating profit experienced a dramatic surge, leaping from £28.1m to £240.8m, although the previous year's figures were impacted by a charge related to its departure from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund, reports Business Live.

In a statement, the group highlighted: "Across its airports, MAG has enhanced the UK's global connectivity over the past 12 months, securing new services to destinations across Europe, America, the Middle East and Africa, giving passengers in all parts of the country greater choice when it comes to international travel. Continued passenger growth has underpinned MAG's strong financial performance in the 12 months to 31 March 2024."

"Passenger numbers for the year were 61.3m, an increase of 13.5% compared to the 54.0m passengers in the previous year. This equated to 102.8pc of pre-pandemic levels."

The group is set to plough more than £2bn into its three airports over the next five years and has reported strong progress on new security technology that promises to do away with the requirement for travellers to remove liquids and large electrical items from hand luggage during security checks.

In maintaining high customer satisfaction, the firm highlighted that 91pc of passengers rated their experience as good or better. Moreover, all three of the group's airports Manchester, Stansted, and East Midlands received top marks from the Civil Aviation Authority for services provided to passengers requiring assisted travel.