MANCHESTER Airport is flying high after being crowned Best UK Airport at the annual Globe Travel Awards 2015. It beat off the likes of Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham, and received the accolade following a phenomenal year of growth, increased destination choice and investment.
The prestigious award,voted for by UK travek agents, comes only two months after Manchester Airport was crowned UK Airport of the Year at the Airport Operators Association annual awards in November 2014, proving the critical importance of the Northern global gateway to UK aviation.
The latest accolade also comes hot on the heels of December’s passenger figures – the highest ever recorded at the airport for a single month. 1.44m people passed through in December 2014 (an increase of 7.45% on last year) - beating the previous record of 1.38m set in December 2007.
Ken O’Toole, Chief Commercial Officer for Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said: “Over the last 12 months we have significantly grown, not just from a passenger point of view but from a destination perspective. Last year we confirmed a direct route to Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific, which makes Manchester the only airport outside of London with a direct non-stop service to China. As well as adding more routes we also continue to develop and invest in the airport, it is reasons like these, I believe, made us a worthy winner in the awards.”
As well as connecting the North West to China, Manchester Airport has also confirmed routes to Miami, Jeddah, Vienna and Pisa in the last year. As well as strengthening services to North America with increased capacity and frequency on routes to New York and Atlanta.
Manchester Airport Group - which is majority owned by the ten councils of Greater Manchester (Manchester City Council own a 35.5% stake) - recently reported £421m of revenue in the first half of the financial year (up £31m on last year) and £117.6m of operating profit.
