Manchester named UK Airport of the Year
Winning in the passengers over six million category, the UK’s third largest airport was up against airports including Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham, and received the accolade due to a phenomenal year of growth, increased destination choice and infrastructure investment.
Voted for by the British Air Transport Association airlines, the annual awards were held at the London Metropole and Tricia Williams, Customer Services Director, collected the award on behalf of Manchester Airport
Andrew Cowan, Chief Operating Officer for Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said: “We are absolutely delighted to beat off fierce competition and win such an esteemed award.
“The accolade is testament to the continued hard work of all our airport staff, and we thank them for their ongoing commitment and diligence.
“It has been an incredibly successful year at Manchester Airport and we hope to soon see passenger numbers back over 22 million – a symbolic figure we’ve not seen since 2007.
“Over the last 12 months we have significantly grown, not just from a passenger point of view but from a destination perspective. This year we confirmed a direct route to Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific, which will make 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, including rapidly progressing our £800m Airport City project and connecting the airport to the region’s tramway, a feat we achieved with Metrolink over a year ahead of schedule. It is for 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, Toronto, Vienna and Pisa this year. As well as strengthening services to North America with increased capacity and frequency on routes to New York and Atlanta.
Manchester Airport is owned by MAG, which also owns London Stansted, East Midlands and Bournemouth Airports. Combined MAG has total annual passenger numbers in excess of 45m.
Founded in 1934, the AOA is the national voice of UK airports. It is a trade association representing the interests of UK airports, and the principal such body engaging with the UK Government and regulatory authorities on airport matters.
