UK. Passenger traffic grew +7.2% year-on-year at Manchester Airport in May, and was up +4.6% at London Stansted.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said combined passenger numbers at its four airports (it also operates East Midlands and Bournemouth airports) was up +5.6% in May. It said this growth was achieved despite two strikes by French air traffic control workers during the month which resulted in the cancellation of 26 flights, and increased delays totalling some 6,500 minutes.
MAG CEO Charlie Cornish said the industrial action in France was having an “unacceptable impact” on travellers using the company’s airports.
“Just the additional delays in May cost airlines and passengers at MAG airports about half a million pounds,” he said. “But this was the 50th such event over the last seven years, so across UK airports as a whole this adds up to considerable hassle and extra cost for airlines, airports and passengers.
“European airports operate in a complex network which means this avoidable disruption in France has significant knock-on effects to operations everywhere else.
“Ahead of what is set to be the busiest summer on record for UK airports, it is vital that European and national agencies work together to find ways to reduce the impact of strikes on passengers and airlines.”
At Manchester Airport, sun destinations being marketed as alternatives to Egypt, Turkey and North Africa were among those experiencing growth far above the overall +7.2% increase. Madiera (+49%), Cape Verde (+40%), Malta (+33%), France (+27%) and Bulgaria (+25%) led the way.
London Stansted experienced its 26th consecutive month of year-on-year passenger growth, with load factors at 87%.
In the 12 months ending May 2016, the total number of passengers using Stansted grew to over 23.3 million, an increase of +9.3% over the previous year and the highest annual total since July 2008.
