The number of passengers travelling on scheduled airlines from Manchester in June grew more than 20% over the same month last year, with the expansion of low cost carriers the main driver.
Just over 900,000 scheduled travellers passed through the airport, helping the overall total hit 2.23 million, a 5.65% jump over June 2004.
The figures emerged shortly after BAA revealed passenger numbers at its seven UK airports increased 4.3% to 13.4 million.
But as with BAA’s airports, Manchester saw a decrease in the number of charter passengers with 3% fewer travelling in June. BAA said its numbers had dropped almost 6%.
A spokeswoman said the growth in scheduled flying was down to the expansion of low cost routes.
“Since December, Jet 2 have operated out of Manchester and they now have 14 routes,” she said. Monarch Scheduled and Air Berlin have also added capacity from the city.
Meanwhile, the airport has appointed Andrew Holl as operations director. He joins from Virgin Rail Group where he was deputy managing director for Cross Country services.
Report by Steve Jones
