March is a successful month for MAG as Manchester and London Stansted grow

• MAG operates the two largest airports in the country with significant spare runway capacity to drive growth in global connectivity.
• The Group had a solid March as Manchester and London Stansted both grew year on year

Passengers

Cargo

MAG, the operator of Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, saw passenger numbers grow by 4.2% in March, as the group saw a strong end to the winter season

Manchester Airport welcomed 2.1m passengers in March, up 3.8% year on year. The growth at Manchester was driven largely by European traffic as passengers flew off on skiing holidays and short breaks.

London Stansted Airport saw 6.1% growth, helped by strong growth in domestic routes to Scotland and Northern Ireland. Overall, Stansted also welcomed 2.1m passengers in March, a month which saw Emirates confirm it would add a frequency on its Stansted-Dubai route launched last year to two flights per day.

East Midlands Airport’s overall performance dipped as 256,000 passengers used the airport in March, down 5.9% year on year.

MAG has released the following statement as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

“March has been broadly positive, showing that MAG airports continue to offer great value and choice to passengers.

It is clear that the best outcome for British people and businesses is for the UK to secure a deal that commands support of Parliament and guarantees an orderly Brexit in due course. Continued uncertainty about these issues will ultimately be a drag on the economy and damage consumer confidence.

“We welcome the Government’s commitment to maintaining vital air connectivity between the UK and Europe even in the event of a ‘no deal’ Brexit. With the EU also equally committed, and with the busy Easter period around the corner, passengers can book and travel with confidence that their services will not be disrupted whatever the outcome.”