Manchester Airport marks its busiest September in history with an average of 81,004 travellers every single day

  • Manchester Airport student arrivals to study at 49 different UK universities
  • Post-school summer holiday getaways for ‘DINKYs’ also help push airport up 5.44% for the month

MANCHESTER, UK, 2015-10-14 — /Travel PR News/ — A record-breaking total of 2,430,142 people travelled through Manchester Airport in September 2015, making it the busiest September in the airport’s 77 year history.

The year-on-year total was up 5.44% on the same month last year, which moved the rolling annual total for the North’s major international airport to a new all-time high of 22,875,884.

An average of 81,004 people flew via Manchester every single day during the 30 days of September – that’s more than the combined capacity of Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium and the Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

The increase was driven by more flights and new destinations on offer; with young people and DINKYs (Double Income No Kids Yet) choosing to take their holidays now the school holidays had ended.

September saw scheduled international passengers increase by a huge 7.55% on the same period last year – with a huge influx of international students arriving to study in the UK.

An estimated 11,500 students arrived in the region by air into Manchester Airport to study at one of Greater Manchester’s four universities (Manchester Metropolitan University; University of Bolton; University of Manchester; and University of Salford).

In total an estimated 23,800 international students and university staff arrived via Manchester to study at 49 universities around the UK, including across Merseyside, Yorkshire, the Midlands and Scotland.

Ken O’Toole, Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, said: “September is always a busy month, because despite it being the end of school summer holidays, certain people take that opportunity to go away, whilst many others arrive to study.

“The international connectivity that Manchester Airport affords to universities beyond those just in Greater Manchester, such as in Liverpool, Yorkshire, Birmingham, Newcastle and even Scotland, should not be underestimated as it helps to make the North of England a truly competitive proposition that is both attractive and accessible globally.”

Air freight was also up by 6.00% as the annual rolling total amount of cargo carried reached 101,167 tonnes.

SOURCE: The Manchester Airports Group plc.