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Regional airports handle 100m passengers but growth slows
Passengers using UK regional airports have exceeded 100 million a year for the first time -nearly three times the number in 1990, according to a new report.
The strongest growth continues to be international scheduled services – likely to be driven by low cost carriers – where passenger numbers have doubled between 2002 and 2006.
The Civil Aviation Authority study shows regional airports have continued to grow at a faster rate than London airports, handling 42% of passengers at UK airports last year.
Traffic growth at regional airports was noticeably slower in 2006 (+4%) than the three previous years (between +9% and +11% each year), but 2006 growth was still greater than at London airports (+2.5%), the CAA said.
The growth in domestic traffic in particular has been slowing and fell to nearly zero in 2006.
There has been a “noticeable change” in the journey patterns of passengers travelling from Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the English regions outside London.
The proportion of these passengers that travel to London by air, road or rail to catch a flight has fallen, from around 60% in 2000 to around 50% in 2005.
“More passengers are flying direct to their ultimate destination from their local airports, or are connecting at hubs outside the UK,” the CAA said.
One development since the CAA’s last study in 2005 has been a much greater public focus on environmental issues.
“This study recognises that environmental initiatives are high on the list of priorities for regional airports and the industry generally,” the CAA said.
The Air Services at UK Regional Airports study looks at the trade-offs of environmental implications, including case studies on changing passenger journey patterns, “and notes that there is scope for more comprehensive analysis”.
Harry Bush, CAA group director economic regulation, said: “Regional airports have continued to develop new services rapidly and have put themselves firmly on the map as gateways for travel to and from the regions they serve.
“There are connections to business as well as leisure destinations in Europe and further afield – including services to hub airports in Europe, the US and Middle East which allow numerous onward connections.”
by Phil Davies
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