October saw Manchester Airport (MAN) welcome its highest-ever passenger numbers for the month. Last month saw over 2.8 million travelers passing through the northern airport’s terminals.
The half-term holiday rush drove much of this traffic, with sun-seekers heading to popular destinations.
While Dubai topped the list of most-visited places, Turkish and Spanish airports dominated the top 10, with two Turkish and four Spanish destinations making the rankings.
Record-Breaking October for MAN
The appetite for air travel continues unabated; further fuelled by the holiday surge. Recently launched routes have proven successful, with new services attracting significant interest.
Virgin Atlantic‘s Las Vegas flights, which began in June, and Juneyao Air’s Shanghai route, launched in July, together carried more than 11,000 passengers.
Security operations remained efficient, with 99% of travelers clearing security within 15 minutes, and 94% within just 10 minutes.
Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director gave comment on the October performance. “Supporting Northern travelers with their desired destinations is our primary focus. The success of our new routes to Shanghai and Las Vegas is particularly encouraging.”
“It adds to what was already the UK’s largest airport network outside London. We’re especially pleased that despite the busy half-term period, security wait times remained minimal, allowing passengers to begin their holiday experience right at the airport.”
13th Consecutive Month of Records
This milestone marks the airport’s 13th consecutive month of record-breaking passenger numbers. The achievement follows Manchester Airport’s recent entry into the prestigious ’30 Million Club,’ having served 30.1 million passengers in a 12-month period.
The airport’s transformation project continues to progress, with completion expected in 2025. Once finished, the expanded Terminal 2 will handle over 70% of passengers. Following the successful opening of its first phase in 2021, the second phase is scheduled for completion next year.
Airport Upgrades
Recent announcements have unveiled an impressive array of new retail offerings coming to Terminal 2‘s second phase. Luxury shopping enthusiasts will be delighted by the addition of a dedicated Chanel beauty boutique. Meanwhile families can look forward to exploring a brand-new Lego Store.
Fashion-conscious travelers will appreciate the introduction of Pandora, and those seeking refreshment can visit the new JD Wetherspoon pub. The Great Northern Market Hall will bring local flavors and products to the terminal, creating a distinctive Northern character within the airport.
The transformation represents a significant shift in the airport’s operations, with Terminal 1 set to close and Terminal 3 reducing its operations to consolidate activities in the new Terminal 2.
Several airlines have already made the transition from Terminals 1 and 3, with additional relocations planned for the coming months.
Top Destinations in October
October’s top destination rankings reflected diverse travel preferences, with Dubai maintaining its position at the top.
The Turkish destinations of Antalya and Dalaman proved popular, while Spanish favorites Alicante, Tenerife, Palma, and Malaga attracted significant numbers of travelers. European city destinations also featured prominently, with Amsterdam, Dublin, and Paris rounding out the top 10.
The record-breaking performance and ongoing development underscore Manchester Airport’s growing importance as a major transportation hub for Northern England.
The combination of expanding route networks, improved facilities, and efficient operations continues to attract both leisure and business travelers, contributing to the airport’s sustained growth and success.
Top 10 October Destinations were Dubai, Antalya, Amsterdam, Dublin, Alicante, Tenerife, Palma, Dalaman, Malaga, and Paris, representing a mix of winter sun destinations and major European cities.
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