Increasing number of Brits in search of winter sun
By Emma Cruces, Education reporter Lancashire Telegraph
Increasing number of Brits in search of winter sun
More people have gone on holiday this year and are still taking to the skies in search of winter sun.
Three regional airports are registering soaring passenger figures for 2013 compared to last year. In November the number of people jetting in and out of Manchester Airport soared for the 18th month on a trot.
A flurry of interest in a new service to the Caribbean helped deliver a near 5.2 per cent increase in passenger numbers last month.
More than 1.3 million people passed through the airport’s gates in November, meaning the gateway has handled 2.6 million passengers in 2013 so far.
Manchester is not the only airport registering a pick up in numbers.
Blackpool Airport is celebrating one of their most successful end of years in recent history. Total passenger figures for Blackpool in 2012 were 214,000 and the forecast for close of 2013 is 238,000 – an increase of 11 per cent.
Susan Kendrick, corporate affairs manager at Blackpool said: “We have had an extended summer season with Jet2.com, meaning flights ran into November, and we had two additional routes: Ibiza and Dalaman.
“There’s still a long way to go and regional airports struggle financially due to additional security costs but it is good news.”
Leeds Bradford airport has seen a similar boost and says it is one of the fastest growing regional airports in the UK. In 2013, more than 3.2 million passengers will have flown from Leeds Bradford, an increase of 10 per cent from 2012.
At Manchester, staff are gearing up for continued increases. Ken O’Toole, chief commercial officer for Manchester Airports Groups, said: “It looks as though we are set for a busy winter here at Manchester Airport. We are delighted that passengers are continuing to choose us as their airport of choice.”
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