Manchester Airports Group edges towards full Covid recovery

Manchester Airports Group saw passenger numbers recover last month to 3.7 million or 90% of equivalent levels in pre-pandemic 2019.

Manchester airport handled 1.7 million travellers, which equated to 90% of the same month in 2019.

A 93% level was reached by Stansted as it served 1.8 million passengers, while East Midlands airport achieved 75% with 150,000.

MAG’s total passenger numbers for 2022 reached almost 50 million, or more than three times the number in 2021. 

The performance across the group was driven by a strong recovery in demand for international travel as Covid-19 restrictions were removed in March, and the reintroduction of the vast majority of airlines’ pre-pandemic routes.

During industrial action by Border Force members of the PCS Union  in late December, Manchester airport worked closely with partners to maintain normal service levels for arriving passengers and enable airlines to operate full schedules on strike days.

The group’s operational performance in December remained strong, with 99% of passengers at Stansted and East Midlands Airports passing through security 15 minutes or less, with the figure for Manchester airport at 95%.

Chief executive Charlie Cornish said: “It was great to see so many passengers back enjoying air travel again over the Christmas period and our traffic figures for 2022 demonstrate the strong recovery we have seen across all of our airports over the past 12 months.

“This reflects our focus on working with our airlines to provide the best possible choice and value to passengers.

“Combined with our investment in service and customer experience, this sets us up well for a positive 2023.”