Her comments come as East Midlands is crowned Airport of the Year at the National Transport Awards and it records further growth in both its passenger and cargo operations. The airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths was also named Ambassador of the Year at the East Midlands Business Awards last week.

September saw East Midlands Airport experience its strongest monthly passenger growth of the year, handling more than 483,000 travellers as demand for flights continued to increase. Passenger numbers rose by almost 8% year on year, representing an additional 35,000 passengers compared to last September.

The Civil Aviation Authority also recently ranked it number one for customer satisfaction in its annual survey of UK airport passengers.

Meanwhile it has handled 210,800 tonnes of cargo so far this year – up by 5% or almost 10,000 tonnes on last year. In September alone it carried 36,000 tonnes, which was a 6.3% increase on last September.

New statistics show that East Midlands Airport, and its cargo operation in particular, contributed £6.2bn to the UK economy last year. The region itself benefited from a £1.5bn economic boost from the airport, which supported 15,430 local jobs.

Mayor Claire Ward says that as the UK's largest dedicated freight airport and the primary gateway to the East Midlands Freeport, the airport connects businesses to global markets and supports thousands of jobs - all at the heart of the country.

She said: “East Midlands Airport is one of the region's greatest economic assets. As an island nation in our modern globalised world, it’s essential that we can trade effectively on the international stage. Having an airport gives us a significant competitive edge and makes the East Midlands a region that is in a strong position to support and grow existing businesses as well as attracting new ones.”

Read her full comments in her guest blog here.

 Passenger numbers continued to show year-on-year growth across the UK’s largest airports group, as it rounded off the summer with a strong September performance.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served 6.5m passengers across the month, up 4.0% on September 2025.

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – also recorded a rolling 12-month passenger total of 67.4m passengers, a 2.5% increase on prior year.

East Midlands Airport saw the greatest year-on-year percentage uplift in September.  It served more than 483,000 passengers - up 7.8%.  The airport’s 12-month rolling total stood at 4.1m passengers, up 3.1%.

London Stansted served 2.9m passengers in September, up 6.4% on last year, and its rolling 12-month total increased by 2.9% to 30.9m passengers.

Manchester Airport served 3.1m passengers across September, a 1.4% increase on the same month last year. That took the Northern gateway’s rolling 12-month passenger total to 32.5m – up 2.1% year-on-year.

Operational performance remained strong as the peak summer period came to an end. At London Stansted,100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. At East Midlands the figure was 99% and at Manchester Airport 98%.   

Passengers:

 Cargo:

Young people will get a behind-the-scenes taste of airports through a first-of-its-kind scheme aimed at helping students take their first step on the career ladder.

The new programme - designed by Manchester Airport and Trafford and Stockport College Group - will see learners gain work experience in live operational environments and learn about the different jobs they can do in aviation.

It forms part of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub - launched in 2025 - which aims to create a long-term talent pipeline to support the growth of aviation in the North.

More than 40 students are enrolled in the first intake for the Airport Operations Course, which will also support young people at risk of finding themselves not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Successful completion of the programme can lead to employment, apprenticeships, higher education and a variety of exciting careers within Manchester Airport and the wider aviation industry. 

It was launched at an event at Trafford & Stockport College, attended by industry leaders, partners, staff and students. Guests were given an exclusive look at the college’s new-look Aviation Department, which features Manchester Airports Group (MAG) branding, as part of the partnership between the two organisations. 

This came as MAG published its annual Sustainability Report, detailing progress made against targets in its Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all.

The report highlights MAG's continued investment in skills, education and employment opportunities across its three airports - Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands. During 2025/26, the Group supported the education of more than 25,700 young people in the regions it serves, through initiatives designed to inspire and raise aspirations and help people access employment opportunities.

Through its wide-reaching programme of Aerozones, Airport Academies, and the industry first Stansted Airport College, MAG supports young people who face barriers to employment and are at risk of not entering employment, education or training (NEET), helping them build confidence, develop workplace skills and connect with employers.

The report also highlights the success of MAG's Aviation Careers Festivals, which connected more than 1,500 young people from across the North, Midlands and South with employers from across the aviation industry, providing valuable insight into the wide range of careers available within the sector.

Alongside progress on skills and employment, the Report details positive developments against MAG's decarbonisation targets, including a 26% reduction in airport (Scope 1 and 2 market-based) emissions in 2025/26 compared with a 2019 baseline.

It also sets out the Group’s achievements in protecting nature and enhancing biodiversity at its airports, alongside its continued commitment to surrounding communities, donating more than £495,000 to local initiatives through its Community Funds.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said:

"Aviation offers an exceptionally broad range of careers, but it is important that young people can see those opportunities from an early age, and develop the skills and experience needed to access them. This programme is a great example of how we're working with education partners to create clear pathways into employment.

“As a major employer across the North, Midlands and South, MAG has a significant role to play in providing skills and employment opportunities that allow surrounding communities to thrive.

“The progress set out in our annual Sustainability Report demonstrates the positive impact our approach is having on real people across the country, alongside developments to achieve our decarbonisation target of net zero carbon operations by 2038, and in our approach to targeted and effective community engagement.

“Creating a pipeline of future talent for our industry is vital to its future success, and MAG is playing a significant role – working together with Government, regulators and industry partners and local communities- to deliver that.”

Councillor Thomas Robinson, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Giving young people in our city the skills they need to access good-quality jobs is a key priority for us, and this new aviation course is another important step towards achieving that.

"Working in partnership with Trafford College and Manchester Airport Group, we are creating clear pathways into a thriving sector, helping 16 to 19-year-olds develop the knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to pursue rewarding careers in aviation. This course forms part of the next phase of our Skills Hub programme, which is connecting Manchester residents with training and employment opportunities linked to some of the city-region’s biggest growth industries. We are looking forward to welcoming the new students in this new academic chapter."

• Transport and infrastructure investment firms say business rates reform at Budget would stimulate productivity-boosting investment
• Falling government investment shows private sector will be relied upon to get Britain building – but rates stand in way
• Closing gap could boost household incomes by £1,500 a year

New investment data issued by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows Britain remains rooted to the bottom of the G7 league table, sparking calls from a group of businesses for urgent action at the Budget.

The businesses, from the worlds of transport and infrastructure investment, say they stand ready to support the Prime Minister’s drive to deliver growth in every postcode but that reforming business rates is an “absolute imperative” to help them do that.

They were reacting to latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, which shows total investment in the UK during Q2 represented less than 19% of GDP – nine percentage points lower than Japan, the best performing G7 country.

It is the fourth consecutive quarter the UK has ranked bottom of the G7, which also includes the United States, Canada, Germany, France and Italy. It comes after a report from Oxford Economics showed the UK had missed out on nearly £2 trillion of investment by not keeping pace with the OECD average for 25 years.

Britain’s weak performance reflects a 2.9% decrease in government investment in Q2, offsetting small increases in private sector investment in the quarter.

With public finances strained, that lays bare the need to create the conditions for large-scale private sector investment in productivity-boosting infrastructure, according to London Gatwick, Manchester Airports Group, Getlink, London St. Pancras Highspeed, Eurostar and the Global Infrastructure Investor Association.

They say changes to the business rates system for infrastructure firms have seen bills increase by up to 400%, leaving them with effective tax rates of up to 77% in the worst cases. That has caused them to pause, cancel or rethink projects that would create jobs and drive growth across the country.

In a joint statement, they said: "Over the past 25 years, only Greece has a worse record on investment than the UK among major economies.

 "Throughout that time, ever-increasing taxes on asset-heavy, capital-intensive businesses have served as a major barrier to them investing in the exact type of infrastructure we need to solve our economic stagnation. A lack of policy stability also makes the UK less attractive for global investors.

 "This latest data show investment may be progressing, but not yet at the rate required to boost economic activity, close the gap with comparable economies and deliver growth in every postcode.

“Given the current fiscal position it is clear that the private sector will be essential in delivering the investment the UK needs and we stand ready to support this Prime Minister in delivering his vision. We are confident we have a shared view of the role investment in strategic infrastructure has to play in turbo-charging productivity and growth.

 "That makes creating a fair and predictable business rates system - one that incentivises, rather than penalises, investment - an absolute imperative and something that must be addressed in the Budget."

Between the organisations, soaring rates have already had an impact. MAG – owner of Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – has paused £130m of investment from its five-year plan after its bill more than doubled at the last Budget.

Getlink, owner of the Channel Tunnel, has seen its rateable value triple from £40m to £118m and had to cancel plans to invest in the reopening of an international rail freight terminal in Barking.

The ONS data release shows “whole economy” investment – known as Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) grew just 0.9% in Q2, having been revised down from a previous estimate of 1.2%.

While that is up 3.1% on 2025, the gap between the UK and the rest of the G7 has widened. In Q2, Italy, Canada and France all had investment at 22% of total GDP, with the United States at 21%.

The latest data comes after separate reports set out how badly the UK has performed on both public and private investment over many years.

 Oxford Economics' The UK's Investment Shortfall revealed the UK has missed out on nearly £2 trillion of investment by failing to keep up with OECD averages for 25 years.

 This performance has been taken to explain why the UK lags G7 countries on productivity. The report found that households would have more than £1,500 more in real disposable income if the UK can catch up with average rates of investment as a share of GDP by 2040.

The research found that business taxes are one of the top three factors distinguishing the UK from higher-investing countries. On profits, the UK taxes broadly in line with other countries. But on taxes on productive assets, and business rates in particular, it has no parallel in the OECD.

Notes to editors:

UK investment compared to G7 countries can be found here: Business investment in the UK - Office for National Statistics

The UK’s Investment Shortfall from Oxford Economics can be found here: The UK's Investment Shortfall | Oxford Economics

Making aviation a more accessible and inclusive industry was the focus of a special event staged by the UK's largest airports group.

MAG hosted its second Aviation for All forum, a cross-industry event aimed at accelerating progress in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), accessibility and early talent.

Simultaneous events were held at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, attended by stakeholders from across the aviation sector, inclusive employers and accessibility companies.

The event was opened by Ken O'Toole, MAG's CEO and Alicia McDonnell, Head of EDI at MAG who spoke about the importance of wider conversation on inclusion in the sector to establish best practice.

Dr Emily Pattinson from Inclusive Employers delivered the keynote speech for the event. Reflecting on the importance and opportunities the aviation sector to building trust, belonging and collaboration to attract diverse talent, address workforce challenges and create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Dr Pattinson said: "Considering the current challenges facing the aviation industry we cannot afford to overlook talent. Creating inclusive and impactful workplaces is about removing barriers, listening to people’s experiences, and making sure everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed and contribute to the sector’s future."

The forum was held on National Inclusion Week as the Group celebrated the innovative approach it has to inclusivity and striving towards the aviation industries shared goal to engage with underrepresented groups through employment, skills development and social initiatives.

A roundtable during the event focused on the three key themes discussed throughout the forum – sector representation, talent mobility, future skills and passenger experience. The roundtable provided both internal colleagues and industry partners to discuss best practice and next steps to build and accelerate on the work being undertaken across the aviation industry towards these targets.

The forum, founded last year by the in-house EDI team, is focused on strengthening this cross collaboration by working in partnership with the Government's Aviation Skills and Industry Board.

Emma Crossland, Chief People Officer at MAG said:

“Creating an inclusive environment is critical to the overall success of our business, and the aviation industry as a whole.

“For our business to grow responsibly and sustainably we must focus on the people who are fundamental to our success whether that’s our passengers, colleagues or local communities, which is exactly why the Aviation for All forum is such a critical piece of work.

“It was great to see the collaboration during National Inclusion Week between so many of our industry partners and those who work directly with us through our education and employment initiatives across the Group.

"The success of this industry-first forum has been amazing to see and a testament to the work our EDI team does in driving a more inclusive environment not just at MAG but across the sector too.

“Thank you to all who attended and contributed to the continued work to accelerate inclusion across the aviation industry.”

Miranda Simms, Senior Inclusion & Wellbeing Manager at TUI said:

"Creating a more inclusive aviation industry starts with listening, learning and working together. We are proud to be part of Aviation for All for a second year, bringing together organisations that share a common ambition to make our industry more accessible, representative and welcoming for everyone.

At TUI, our Come As You Are philosophy reflects our commitment to creating environments where people feel valued, respected and able to be themselves. When people can see a place for themselves in our industry, we open the door to new talent, fresh perspectives and better experiences for colleagues and customers alike. By collaborating across the sector, we can turn our shared commitment into meaningful and lasting change, creating clearer pathways into aviation for future generations."

Jon O'Brien, Training Manager at ABM said:

"ABM is proud to be invited to join the Aviation for All Forum. This is a fantastic opportunity to build on the foundations we have already put in place to create an inclusive workplace by supporting, adapting, and providing routes into aviation for everyone. By sharing best practice and learning from colleagues across the sector, we can continue to support existing employees while encouraging greater diversity within our aviation community.

"Not only does this programme provide people with opportunities to build rewarding careers in aviation, but it also enables us to learn from forum members with lived experience. Their insights help us evolve the way we support guests travelling through the airport, enhancing their overall experience and ensuring that our services are accessible to all.

"By building on the ABM mindset that people who feel included create journeys where everyone belongs, we can continue to make a positive difference for both our colleagues and our customers."

Brooke Allot, Senior Employment Officer at Pure Innovations said:

“Our offer through the Pure Innovations Supported Internship centres on creating meaningful and sustainable employment opportunities for young adults with additional needs. The aviation industry has a vital role to play in creating long-term, inclusive career opportunities, and year after year we have seen the positive impact the sector can have through our internship programme.’’

“Being part of the Aviation for All forum gives us an opportunity to share what is working, learn from others across the industry and consider what more we can do together to remove barriers and create opportunities. It is important that everyone who wants to build a career in aviation can see a pathway into the industry, and we are proud to be contributing to that.”

August saw a record 7.4m passengers pass through a Manchester Airports Group (MAG) airport, up 4.4% on August 2025.

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – recorded a rolling 12-month total of 67.2m passengers, a 2.2% increase on prior year.

The biggest increase was at London Stansted where 3.3m passengers took advantage of its extensive European network and double-daily Dubai service in August. The month total was up 6.5% year-on-year.

Across the summer (June-August), 9.3m passengers travelled through London Stansted airport, an increase of 5.4% on summer 2025. The rolling 12-month total of the airport is 30.7m, an increase of 2.4%.

Manchester Airport welcomed a record 3.6m passengers in August, up 2.6% year-on-year. Over 10m passengers passed through the Northern gateway during the summer period. The Northern hub’s rolling 12-month total stood at 32.4m, an increase of 2.1% on prior year.

Over the summer, 1.6m passengers passed through East Midlands Airport. In August, the airport hosted more than 552,000 passengers, a 3.7% increase year-on-year. Across the rolling 12-month period the airport welcomed 4.0m passengers, a 1.2% increase on 2025.

Operational performance remained strong throughout the busy summer period. At London Stansted, 100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. At East Midlands the figure was 99% and at Manchester Airport 98%.   

 Passengers:

Cargo:

A report published today reveals that the UK has lagged behind almost all major economies in investment for 25 years, missing out on nearly £2 trillion of spending on growth-boosting projects.  

 The drain on productivity has been so strong that unless the UK closes the investment gap to the G7, households would miss out on £1,540 a year in real disposable income by 2040 - according to the Oxford Economics study, The UK’s Investment Shortfall.  

 A group of major transport businesses, leaders and infrastructure investors have written jointly to the Chancellor John Healey calling on him to “write a new chapter for the UK economy” by reforming sky-high business rates and creating the conditions needed for long-term private investment. 

 The group, including the CEOs of Eurostar, Channel Tunnel owner Getlink, the Global Infrastructure Investor Association, London Gatwick, London St Pancras Highspeed and Manchester Airports Group, have been forced to consider action as a result of rates bills that have up to trebled. 

 The report reveals that in every year since 2000, the UK has sat at - or near - the bottom of the G7 for the amount invested by both the public and private sectors. In 2025, the UK invested 18.9% of GDP compared to an average of 22.5% among the 38 OECD countries. Averaged over the past 25 years, only Greece ranks lower.  

Oxford Economics reports that high public debt and the Government’s fiscal rules limiting further borrowing, business will need to shoulder most of the burden for closing the UK’s investment shortfall.  

 There is strong appetite across these businesses to invest. However, the gap between UK business investment and the rest of the G7 average is three times bigger today than it was 25 years ago.   

 The report identified three barriers that set the UK apart from higher-investing economies: the burden and design of business taxation; the costs of delivering new capacity, particularly planning, energy and construction labour; and policy unpredictability. When businesses do find a way to invest, they pay an “unpredictability premium,” researchers found, incurring the cost of adapting to new policies brought in by different governments.  

 They found that if the UK had matched the average of the other G7 economies throughout the 25-year period, an extra £1.9 trillion would have been spent on transport, housing, IT and modern equipment - £109 billion in the last year alone.  

 Weak investment has been blamed for the UK’s low productivity, which in turn hits living standards. The report found families would have £1,540 more real household disposable income per year by 2040 if the UK could recover its business investment shortfall with other G7 countries. 

 Innes McFee, CEO of Oxford Economics, said:  

“The UK has been stuck in a low-growth rut since the late-2000s financial crisis, and it has become the country's defining economic problem.  

“A large part of the explanation lies with investment. For many years the UK has put less into new machinery, buildings, infrastructure and technology than its counterparts in comparable economies, so the capital available to each worker has grown more slowly and output per hour with it.  

“This report was commissioned by some of the biggest infrastructure operators and investors in the country. They encounter the barriers to investment described here in their day-to-day decisions, and wanted them set out clearly, measured against the economy as a whole, and put before those in a position to act on them.  

“The obstacles are, for the most part, of the UK's own making, and that is a reason for optimism. Conditions can be improved, and the reward is a larger, more productive economy and higher living standards that endure.”  

The report finds that UK public sector investment is set to run around 2.6% of GDP over this Parliament, its highest level in more than 40 years, helping to narrow the gap with the G7 average. However, it concludes that public investment alone cannot close the UK's investment gap, with barriers to private sector investment limiting its overall impact.  

It says: “A public pipeline, however ambitious, will deliver less than intended if the environment facing private capital remains discouraging.”  

 Read the full report here.

Ken O'Toole, CEO of MAG, said:  

"The growth of our airports has helped raise living standards across the country. Our previous investments have created thousands of jobs and opportunities, often for those who find themselves not in education or training. 

"The connectivity these investments have enabled has helped businesses in the North, South and Midlands access international markets and attracted global firms to our regions, generating high-value jobs in fast-growing industries. 

"We have the capacity and ambition to do more. We are ready to help reverse the UK's long-standing under-performance on investment and help ensure growth is felt in every postcode. But our ambition must be matched by a Government that understands the conditions business needs to invest. The Budget is an opportunity to demonstrate that." 

Pierre-Hugues Schmit, Chief Executive of London Gatwick, said:  

“London Gatwick is ready to deliver the infrastructure this country needs to grow. Our Northern Runway Programme will add £1 billion to the economy every year, create 14,000 jobs and bring significant tourism and trade benefits. As a business that must invest in and maintain our assets over the long term, our key ask for Government is to use the Budget to deliver a more stable and proportionate approach on key issues such as business rates and bring the policy certainty that we need to invest and stay competitive.”  

 Jon Phillips, Chief Executive of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association, said:  

“Private capital is mobile by its very nature, only landing where the right signals demonstrate continuity, credibility, and consistency. Unless the Government gets these conditions right for business rates, the country will miss out on crucial investment in core infrastructure needed to grow the economy and improve connectivity.   

"At a time when German, French, and Canadian governments are actively courting international investors, the UK is in danger of losing further ground to its competitors. The UK used to be seen as one of the most attractive investment markets in the world – it’s now time for policy change that ensures it regains that position.”  

Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, said:  

“The Oxford Economics report shows that the Government has a unique opportunity to act to increase the UK’s attractiveness for long-term private investment.  

It identifies taxes on productive assets as one of the key barriers holding back investment, growth and competitiveness.  

 “The latest valuation cycle has seen Eurotunnel's rateable value nearly triple, despite no change in the scale or nature of the infrastructure, nor its revenues. Such major and unpredictable increases in business rates are detrimental to investment and growth.  

 “A fairer and more predictable business rates regime would unlock investment, boost UK competitiveness and expand productive capacity.”  

Gwendoline Cazenave, CEO of Eurostar, said:  

“This report reflects the increasingly challenging environment for businesses seeking to invest and grow in the UK. Eurostar is proud of its long-term commitment to the UK, having invested significantly in our double decker trains, and infrastructure over the past 30 years, and with significant plans for the coming decade. Our new £1.7 billion fleet is a vote of confidence in international rail. A business rates system that supports ongoing investment is essential to the UK’s long-term economic growth.”  

 Robert Sinclair, CEO of London St. Pancras Highspeed, said: 

"Creating an environment that allows businesses to invest is crucial for driving growth in the UK economy. There is significant potential for international rail to be at the forefront of driving that growth and connecting the UK with Europe, now is the time for the government to seize this opportunity". 

“We immediately contained the risk and have been working with specialist advisors and taking appropriate steps to protect our customers and systems. We have informed and are working with the relevant authorities. At no point has passenger safety or aviation security been compromised.”

“The incident has not resulted in any operational disruption. Airport operations remain unaffected and customer parking services continue to operate normally.

“Neither MAG nor the system accessed hold customers’ bank or payment details. The data that has been accessed includes customers’ email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle registrations and postcodes.

"We would like to reassure customers that Manchester Airport Group takes the security of customer information extremely seriously and we apologise for any inconvenience or concern caused.”

The last runway to be built in the UK has profoundly changed the Northern economy over 25 years and has the potential to deliver an even greater boost in the future, a report out today concludes.

But policy-makers must grasp the “golden opportunity” to create a super-connected global North that makes the most of its new economic strengths and closes the UK’s productivity gap, according to the study: A Route to Growth for the North.

Manchester’s Runway 2 opened in 2001, as part of a response to deep industrial decline across the North that saw its home city lose one in four jobs in the preceding decades.

The £172m investment - delivered in just four years from approval being granted - has seen the airport become a true global gateway that connects the North to more than 200 countries representing 75% of global GDP. Its economic impact on the North has climbed to £9.5bn a year.

Manchester’s connectivity has helped the North became a growing economy, with clusters of high-value industries in all its major cities, the report from economic consultants Metro Dynamics finds. It has seen higher value exports; surging student and visitor numbers; and inward investment increasing as national levels declined over the 25 years since Runway 2 opened.

Manchester’s two runways mean it still has the potential to nearly double passenger numbers from today’s 32.3m - more than twice the number it has added since Runway 2 opened. Report authors say this is a reflection of the untapped potential of the Northern economy as a whole.

Reacting to the findings, business and political leaders said Prime Minister Andy Burnham must press ahead with plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, saying it would not only help Manchester secure yet more routes to key global markets, but ensure all parts of the North fully benefit from the value that connectivity generates, especially for high-growth industries that rely on global access more than most.

Writing the foreword, economist and life president of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership Lord Jim O’Neill, said Manchester Airport was now “an asset that benefits more than Greater Manchester alone,” adding: “But that ambition needs to be matched by government investment in the transport links that connect the airport to the wider North.”

He said the Northern economy was “showing consistent signs of economic momentum, yet the airport’s potential catchment remains beyond easy reach. Northern Powerhouse Rail is the mechanism that changes that.”

Lord O’Neill concluded: “If our new Prime Minister is to hit his target for UK growth, we need higher productivity overall, and that means closing the North-South divide. International connectivity can make a meaningful contribution to that, and in Greater Manchester’s case it already is. The missing piece is the railway that allows the rest of the North to fully share in those benefits.”

The study includes economic data analysis from WPI Economics showing:

· Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the North West grew £6.7bn over the past decade despite UK-wide decline

· Global services trade value in the North West grew by 48% between 2016-2023, reaching £59bn

· The number of North West firms trading globally grew from 8,300 to 13,100 between 2011-2023

· That value of goods trade in the wider North grew by 66% between 2010-2025, compared to 50% in London

· Global research collaborations involving the N8 group of Northern universities saw a 10-fold increase to more than 70,000 in the 25 years covered by the report

· The North West has seen a 122% increase in international visitor numbers since 2022 – the most of any region outside London

· The North West saw 19% of all new commercial land developed in England between 2017-2022

· Industrial land values in the North West grew 48% in the same period – the most in England outside London

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: “This demonstrates clearly that when the right conditions are in place to encourage long-term investment in strategic infrastructure, the benefits are transformational and can power a generation of growth and beyond.

“Airports are not just buildings people pass through as they travel for work or leisure – they are a route to growth for regional economies - economic catalysts integral to our success as an island trading nation.

“Investing in Manchester Airport’s runways and terminals required visionary leadership, a culture of public and private sector collaboration and an understanding that infrastructure investment not only creates jobs and value in the short term, but can change the economic trajectory of regions in the long term.

“While Runway 2 shows what is possible, the UK’s overall performance on investment ranks poorly against other major economies. This Government has an opportunity to embed a policy environment that encourages key strategic investments just like this in regions across the UK, as part of its mission to deliver growth in every postcode. That includes delivering on Northern Powerhouse Rail and reforming business taxes to remove barriers to much-needed investment.”

Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig said: “Manchester Airport is Greater Manchester’s gateway to the world and one of the North’s great success stories. For 25 years, its second runway has helped connect our businesses, universities and communities to global markets, and has played a major role in our city-region’s reinvention.

“Now we need to make sure more people and places share in that success. Northern Powerhouse Rail, including a high-speed station at the airport, would cut journey times, open up access to jobs and opportunities, and help unlock the North’s full potential. That is the investment our region needs - and the case we will keep making.”

VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “Manchester Airport is a gateway to the North and a major driver of tourism growth across regional Britain. For many visitors, tourism is their first experience of a place, and regional gateways like Manchester Airport make it easier to discover more of Britain, underpinning our competitive tourism offer and message of welcome.

“By connecting international business and leisure visitors with destinations across the North, the airport supports local businesses, jobs and spending in communities far beyond its own doorstep, while positioning the North as a world-class destination for leisure, study, trade and investment. As this report demonstrates, investing in connectivity delivers benefits far beyond transport alone, boosting economic growth and ensuring tourism continues to be a driver of prosperity for communities across Britain.”

In the report, exporters from North Yorkshire to South Cheshire and Cumbria to Sheffield tell their own growth stories, alongside sports clubs like Lancashire County Cricket Club, universities and other prominent voices such as Sir Richard Leese, former leader of Manchester City Council, and Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell, former Manchester University vice-chancellor and now an Industrial Strategy Council vice-chair.

To read the full report click here.

BUSINESS CASE STUDIES

GREATER MANCHESTER

Qiagen, Manchester, Greater Manchester

It develops products that support a range of markets, from life sciences to research and academia. Qiagen’s Manchester-based operation is focused on working with pharmaceutical companies as they develop drugs. The operation has gone from 60 people in 2009 to more than 250 today and continues to grow. It sells into 170 countries, as well as attending global conferences.

Julia Buckler, Head of Assay Development and Manchester Site Head, said: “The scientific field as a whole is a global platform – and we all work together across those different countries. So the airport is essential for keeping those connections going. Business needs to connect. The easier you make it, the easier it is to go more frequently and the more it accelerates those collaborations.

“There's a thriving life science community building in Manchester and having that connectivity with the airport makes Manchester a really viable and convenient option.”

Expo Stars, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Founded in 2007 by Lee Ali, Expo Stars Interactive helps businesses attending global exhibitions get better returns from their investment. Services include sales training, providing multilingual staff to front exhibition stands and anything else that creates better business connections at events. It has grown into an internationally-recognised consultancy, having supported more than 4,000 events in 53 countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.

Lee Ali, Founder and Managing Director of Expo Stars Interactive, said: “International connectivity is essential for northern businesses with global ambitions. Manchester Airport enables companies like ours to build relationships, reach new markets and export our expertise around the world without having to travel through London.”

Seda Pharma Development Services, Cheadle, Greater Manchester

A contract research, development and manufacturing organisation that helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies accelerate the development of new medicines from preclinical stages through to clinical manufacture. Founded in 2015, Seda serves clients across North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, with more than half of its revenues coming from exports. The company has invested significantly in facilities, technology and talent, creating highly skilled jobs in Greater Manchester while supporting drug development programmes for clients around the world.

Marcel de Matas, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder, said: "More than half of our revenue is generated through exports, making international connectivity critical to our continued growth. Our model-informed approach to drug development attracts clients from across the world and Manchester Airport plays an important role in helping us build global relationships, host international visitors and support projects across multiple continents. It demonstrates how world-class life sciences companies can thrive in the North West while competing on an international stage."

Space Zero / Kampus International, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Specialists in the design of learning environments, having delivered more than 1,000 education projects worldwide over the past 17 years. It works across the UK, Europe, UAE, China, Thailand and Malaysia, designing and delivering innovative experiential educational spaces that improve learning and wellbeing. More recently, projects for Space Zero and sister business architectural practice Kampus International have secured in KSA, USA, Mexico, and Egypt, with expansion to Ethiopia and India planned.

Informed Solutions, Altrincham, Greater Manchester

Founded in 1992, it is a mid-sized firm that has grown into an international digital, data, and AI business.

Operating across the UK, Australia, ASEAN, and Europe, Informed develops digital products and services that help make the world smarter, safer, cleaner, and healthier. Key sectors include healthcare, public safety, transport, energy, the environment and critical national infrastructure. It helps clients improve the use of data and to apply AI responsibly.

Duo, Manchester, Greater Manchester

A manufacturer of packaging used by some of the world's largest retailers and consumer brands. If you've ordered something online, there's a good chance it arrived in Duo packaging.

Over 40 years, Duo has worked with customers to improve how packaging performs throughout the supply chain, while reducing waste and environmental impact. A boom in click-and-collect and locker deliveries has driven demand for its patented DuoOptipac mailing bag. Exports now account for 15% of sales, with countries sold to in the last year including India, Italy, Belgium, Bangladesh, Cambodia and the USA. It has warehousing facilities in Atlanta, Berlins and North China.

Co-owner and Brand Director, Zoe Brimelow, said: "We're proud to be a Manchester business with customers across the globe. Manchester Airport helps us stay connected with customers, suppliers and new opportunities internationally. As we continue to grow, those connections are more important than ever."

VIRSEC, Manchester, Greater Manchester

Established in 2016, VIRSEC specialises in providing online maritime and port security training to shipping companies, port facilities or maritime professionals.

From its Manchester city centre base, it provides training in 135 countries, with its largest customers in the USA, The Netherlands, France, Norway and Greece. The firm was part of the Prime Minister’s trade mission to India in 2025.

Co-founder Cathy Wallwork said: “Exporting has been fundamental to our growth. Whether working with shipping companies, port facilities, or maritime professionals, our ability to export specialist knowledge and services has enabled us to grow sustainably while showcasing the expertise that exists here in the North of England.

“International connectivity has been a key factor in that success. Manchester Airport serves as the gateway that enables us, whenever necessary, to physically meet with clients quickly and efficiently, attend overseas meetings, conferences and events, and build lasting partnerships. For businesses like ours, global connections are not simply convenient, they are essential. Our proximity to Manchester Airport allows us to respond to client requirements, develop new markets, and compete internationally while remaining proudly based in Manchester.”

CHESHIRE

Hydraulics Online, Alsager, Cheshire

A kitchen table start-up founded by husband-and-wife team Mark and Helen Tonks in 2004. They used their engineering and strategic business career experience to build a truly customer-centric company that has exported to more than 130 countries. Clients range from an observatory in Chile and mining engineers in South Africa to energy suppliers in the UAE, marine engineers in Western Australia, and everything in-between.

Co-founder Helen Tonks MBE said: “The geography of our customer base never ceases to amaze me. Every day organisations, large and small alike, turn to us, and in turn we make the miles disappear; distance is never an issue helped by having true international connectivity on our doorstep.

“Comprehensive long-haul routing of the kind Manchester Airport offers is a gamechanger for companies like ours when it comes to operating on a global stage. It means the world really can be our oyster.”

The Scott Partnership, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire

The life sciences marketing specialist has exported its services since being founded. It helps organisations - from Fortune 500 market leaders to SMEs and start-ups - looking to build profile. Clients have typically been in US biotech hubs like Boston and Silicon Valley, as well as across Europe, especially Germany. Further European expansion – to Italy, Switzerland and France has followed, with access to Manchester Airport key to productive and efficient business trips.

Kath Darlington MBE, Chief Executive of the Scott Partnership, said:

“We always used to say we don’t need to be near to London but only to Manchester Airport. That’s because we have always been an export business providing marketing services to scientific companies located across the global supply chain.”

ThinkITtech, Daresbury, Cheshire

Industrial software and engineering specialist Emanuele Zanchettin founded ThinkITtech at Sci-Tech Daresbury after he moved to the UK a decade ago. The firm is developing AMSynchro, a system the monitors and traces critical materials while they’re being stored, handled and transported. It serves the space, aerospace and defence sectors, with its AI-technology winning support from the European Space Agency and UK Space Agency. The firm has clients across Europe and North America.

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“Manchester Airport first helped me remain connected with my family, and today it helps me take a technology developed in the North West to international customers and partners.”

LIVERPOOL CITY REGION

Spice Kitchen, Liverpool

An award-winning, family business founded by mother-and-son team Shashi and Sanjay Aggarwal. It began around the family kitchen table on Christmas Day 2012 and has grown into an internationally-recognised food and gifting brand, producing small-batch spice blends, signature spice tins, cookery kits and gifts inspired by flavours from around the world. The company’s first export market was Ireland, followed by European markets including Belgium. It has since developed relationships with retailers in Dubai and the wider Middle East, more recently expanding into the United States.

Sanjay said: “For northern businesses like ours, strong international connections are vital. Manchester Airport provides a gateway to meeting buyers, understanding markets first-hand and building the relationships that turn export ambitions into sustainable growth. Continued investment in the North’s global connectivity will help more businesses take that leap and show the world the quality, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit our region has to offer.”

Ki Partnerships, Liverpool

Founded in 2021, it provides property and growth advisory services to businesses, investors, public bodies and government departments globally.

Drawing upon the nearly 30 years of experience of founder Paul Kallee-Grover MBE, Ki helps clients identify trusted partners, enter new markets, attract investment and build lasting commercial relationships. Recent include in Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Germany and China, where Paul spoke at the 2026 Beijing CBD Cross-Border Investment Forum.

Paul Kallee-Grover MBE said: “Manchester Airport connects our Northern base with our clients and partners around the world. It is often the first step in turning an international introduction into a trusted relationship and that relationship into investment, trade or a lasting commercial opportunity for our business”

CUMBRIA

Playdale Playgrounds, Ulverston, Cumbria

Founded in 1978, Playdale is a leading UK designer, maker and installer of outdoor play equipment, having delivered more than 27,000 playgrounds and expanded to more than 50 countries worldwide. Serving sectors including education, local government, housing and leisure, Playdale exports across Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania through a global distribution network.

Oxley Group, Ulverston, Cumbria

A world-leading designer and manufacturer of advanced aerospace and defence technologies, exporting to customers in 34 countries across all five continents from its Cumbria base. Exports account for more than 80% of turnover and the business has built long standing relationships with global organisations including Airbus, Saab, Lockheed Martin, KAI, General Dynamics and BAE Systems.

Oxley continues to invest in advanced manufacturing, innovation and skills in Cumbria. For businesses like Oxley, strong international connectivity is essential.

Jayne Moorby MBE, head of marketing at Oxley, said: “Access to global markets allows northern manufacturers to attract investment, create highly skilled jobs and grow exports while remaining firmly rooted in the north, demonstrating that world class businesses can thrive from regional communities and compete successfully on a global stage.”

YORKSHIRE

Paxman, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

For more than 25 years, Paxman has been dedicated to improving quality of life for people undergoing chemotherapy by developing solutions to manage distressing side effects. It is best-known for The Paxman Scalp Cooling System, which helps prevent chemotherapy-induced alopecia and is now used in cancer centres and hospitals across Europe, The Americas, Asia and Oceania. Its sustained investment in R&D has created a product pipeline to address other side-effects. Paxman also localises its products through language translation and training platforms. It now trades in 65 countries, from Croatia to Canada, Poland to Pakistan and Switzerland to Singapore.

Regional manager, Europe, David Heathcote said: “Huddersfield and West Yorkshire are home to globally competitive manufacturers, health technology innovators and research-led businesses whose impact reaches far beyond the North of England.

“These innovators show why better international connectivity matters: it enables Northern innovation to reach global customers, attract investment, support research partnerships and keep high-value jobs rooted locally.”

The International Group, North Anston, Sheffield City Region

A specialist engineering and manufacturing firm, supplying high-quality steel, alloys and precision-engineered components to customers in industries like energy, defence, aerospace, aviation and marine. Customers include major international businesses like Aker Solutions and OneSubsea, with products used in settings from subsea infrastructure and power generation to aircraft systems and defence equipment.

It was founded in 2017 as a one-person operation by Emma Parkinson and has evolved into a global player with 70% of business overseas. The Group trades across Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the United States.

CEO Emma Parkinson said: "For us, connecting the North to the world means building on Sheffield’s industrial heritage while demonstrating that advanced British manufacturing has a powerful global future. The region has the skills, experience and determination to compete internationally, and our role is to carry that reputation for quality into new markets.

"We are proud to create skilled jobs, invest in modern manufacturing capabilities and show that a business rooted in the north can deliver critical products to customers around the world.”

John King Chains, Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire

The family-owned manufacturer has just celebrated its centenary. It makes heavy duty conveyor and elevator chains, sprockets, shafts, laser profiled and other parts supplied to the materials handling industry worldwide.

Founded during the coal industry boom, the firm pivoted as the sector declined and diversified into new global markets and industries. It now supports sectors including mining, quarrying, cement, biomass, sugar, ports, recycling, agriculture, food processing and transport in 70 countries worldwide. Parts can be found in escalators, moving walkways and theme park rides. Exports now account for nearly 50% of turnover.

Managing director William Wadsworth said: "The decline of the UK coal industry fundamentally changed the direction of our business. International trade enabled us not only to survive, but to grow, diversify and invest for the future. Our success demonstrates that world-class engineering can be designed, manufactured and exported from the North of England. Through continued investment in our people, facilities and technology, we have created skilled employment opportunities while building a business that competes successfully around the world."

Sound Leisure, Leeds, West Yorkshire

A third generation family business that has been designing and manufacturing Jukeboxes since 1978.

First set up to supply the UK hospitality industry, exports now make up 70% of sales, with all products made in its Leeds factory. It bases designs on those made famous in the 1940s and 50s, focussing on analogue formats like vinyl LPs, 45s and CDs. Sound supplies individuals and the luxury leisure scene globally. Its top markets are the Netherlands, France, America, the UAE and Switzerland.

·       London Stansted recorded the busiest month in its history

·       Operational performance remained strong throughout July

·       MAG airports received ‘very good’ and ‘good’ ratings in the CAA Annual Accessibility Report

The start of the summer holidays saw Manchester Airports Group (MAG) welcome 7m passengers in July - up4.2% year-on-year and a record for the UK’s largest airports group.

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – recorded a rolling 12-month total of 66.8m passengers, a 1.9% increase on prior year.

London Stansted recorded the busiest month in the airport’s history welcoming 3.1m passengers, a 6.3% increase year-on-year. Daily passenger numbers also topped 100,000 passengers for 18 days of July. The rolling 12-month total for the airport was 30.5m passengers, an increase of 1.8%.

Manchester Airport had a record July – serving 3.4m passengers, a 2.5% increase year-on-year. The Northern gateway's rolling 12-month total stood at 32.3m passengers, a 2.2% increase on last year.

East Midlands Airport served more than 525,000 passengers in July, a 3.1% increase on prior year. The airport’s rolling 12-month total stood at 4m passengers, a 0.4% increase year-on-year.  

Operational performance remained strong throughout the busy summer month. At London Stansted airport, 100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less in July. The figure was 99% at East Midlands and 91% at Manchester Airport.

Last week, MAG welcomed the news that East Midlands and Manchester airports received the highest possible ‘very good’ rating in the Civil Aviation Authority’s annual Airport Accessibility Report. London Stansted also received a 'good’ rating. These ratings reflected the Group’s investment in its accessible travel services, and its collaboration with onsite assistance partner ABM.

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MAG, which runs Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted, has long championed employer-led skills and employment programmes, arguing that tackling economic inactivity requires closer collaboration between government, education providers and employers.

Backing the Government’s announcement, the Group’s Chief People Officer Emma Crossland said:

‘More young people need clear routes into education, skills and employment if the UK is to realise its growth ambitions and build the workforce required for the future.

‘As a major employer in the regions we serve, we have a responsibility to offer real-life experiences. We believe in the power of grassroots engagement - creating opportunities all the way from classroom to boardroom - to build future talent pipelines.’

MAG’s comments follow the recent Milburn Review which highlighted what it described as a systemic failure that has left almost one million young people aged 16-24 NEET and could cost the UK up to £125bn annually.

Working with schools, colleges, local authorities, charities and the Department for Work and Pensions, MAG has built an industry leading employer-led education and employment programmes, which supports people at every stage of their journey into work.

Through its Aerozones, young people aged four to 18 can explore careers in aviation through free interactive learning experiences, while Stansted Airport College and Manchester Airport Skills Hub and its three Airport Academies help people of all ages develop the skills needed for careers across aviation and beyond.

Since 2020, MAG's programmes have supported more than 52,000 jobseekers, including more than 350 young people classed as NEET in the last year alone. Across its Airport Academies, the Group supports around 900 jobseekers every year, with more than 60% securing employment with MAG or one of its airport partners.

Ms Crossland added:

‘The Milburn report brought fresh attention to one of the UK's most pressing social and economic challenges and reinforced why tackling economic inactivity has become one of the Government's highest priorities.

‘We believe business has a critical role to play in the solution. They should not underestimate how transformative a single experience can be in the life of a young person – whether that is a conversation, a mentor, a workplace visit or an opportunity to gain real-world experience.’

MAG’s reaction is included in a full article written by Ms Crossland, which can be read here.

But what informs our answers? Usually, a combination of our surrounding environment and imagination that conjures up an image of what our adult lives might look like.

It is difficult to aspire to a career that you don't know exists and not everyone comes from a background that gives them exposure to the wide range of jobs they could one day have.

 So how do we create a world in which everyone has an equal chance to pursue a career that excites them?

At MAG, we believe in the adage that “you need to see it to believe it”. Few industries can capture the imagination quite like aviation, with its operational buzz and sense of helping people experience new things around the world. As a major employer in the regions we serve, we have a responsibility to offer real-life experiences. We believe in the power of grassroots engagement - creating opportunities all the way from classroom to boardroom - to build future talent pipelines.

And this responsibility has never been more important.

The recent Milburn Review highlighted what it described as a systemic failure that has left almost one million young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (NEET), which could cost the UK up to £125bn annually.

The report brought fresh attention to one of the UK's most pressing social and economic challenges and reinforced why tackling economic inactivity has become one of the Government's highest priorities. More young people need clear routes into education, skills and employment if the UK is to realise its growth ambitions and build the workforce required for the future.

 We believe business has a critical role to play in the solution. They should not underestimate how transformative a single experience can be in the life of a young person – whether that is a conversation, a mentor, a workplace visit or an opportunity to gain real-world experience.

 For more than a decade, we have invested in what in our view is one of the most comprehensive, employer-led education and employment programmes in the UK.  

Working alongside schools, colleges, local authorities, charities and the Department for Work and Pensions, we have built clear pathways that take young people from inspiration and education through to training and employment. That means we provide pathways for those who follow a traditional path – but we also support those who are harder to reach.

We support people at every stage of their journey into work, from inspiring young people through free aviation learning experiences at our Aerozones to providing pathways into employment through work experience, apprenticeships and specialist training. Through our Airport Academies, Stansted Airport College and the Manchester Airport Skills Hub, we help people of all ages build skills, confidence and careers in aviation and beyond.

The impact of this approach is tangible. Since 2020, MAG's skills and employment programmes have supported more than 52,000 jobseekers, and in the last year alone, we supported more than 350 young people classified as NEET through our pre-employment programmes.

Through our Airport Academies, we train 900 jobseekers every year, helping prepare them for live vacancies across our airport campuses and wider industry. Last year over 60% of the learners secured a job with MAG or one of our partners. These outcomes show how employer-led interventions can make a meaningful contribution to addressing economic inactivity while creating future talent pipelines for growth sectors such as aviation.

These are mutually beneficial partnerships. They create the talent pipelines our business needs to thrive, but they are also powerful mechanisms for social mobility.

At a time when reducing the number of young people who are NEET has become a national priority, creating accessible routes into aviation careers is both socially responsible and strategically essential.

By connecting people to real employment opportunities, we are building a long-term talent pipeline which supports the long-term growth of our airports and helps address labour market challenges - all while unlocking potential that might otherwise be lost.

The Milburn Review is a reminder of the responsibility businesses have to inspire and create clear pathways for as many young people as possible. If only a small percentage of those young people can answer that perennial question – “what do you want to be when you grow up?” – with confidence and ambition, then thousands of lives could be changed through the opportunities our sector provides.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is gearing up for a positive summer season off the back of a record performance in June.  

With schools across the UK about to break up for summer, MAG’s airports have more than 990,000 additional seats on sale compared to 2025, offering passengers a greater choice of global destinations than ever before.   

MAG served a record 6.4m passengers in June, an increase of 2.2% on the same month last year. 

The Group – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands – recorded a rolling 12-month passenger total of 66.6m passengers, a 1.6% increase year-on-year.  

Manchester and London Stansted both saw record passenger numbers across June.  

Manchester Airport served 3.1m passengers across the month - an increase of 1.3% year-on-year. The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total stood at 32.3m passengers, a 2.3% increase on 2025.  

London Stansted welcomed 2.9m passengers in June, a 3.4% increase year-on-year. The rolling 12-month passenger total for the airport stood at 30.3m passenger, a 1.2% increase on last year.  

East Midlands Airport welcomed more than 498,000 passengers, a 1.2% increase year-on-year. As the UK’s largest pure freight hub, the airport handled more than 37,000 tonnes of cargo across June - a 13.9% increase on prior year.  

As the Group heads into its peak summer season, operational performance remained strong. 100% of passengers at London Stansted passed through security in 15 minutes or less. At East Midlands Airport, the figure was 99% and at Manchester Airport it was 97%.   

MAG recently published positive annual results for the year to 31 March 2026. The Group posted revenues of £1.5bn, up 12.8% on prior year, and an adjusted EBITDA of £614.4m, up 7.7% year-on-year. Operating profit stood at £303.9m, up 15.5% on 2024/25.  

The results were underpinned by investments of £561.7m across the year as the Group marked the nearing of completion of its £1.5bn transformation at Manchester Airport and the start to its investments at London Stansted.  

Reflecting on the results, MAG’s CEO, Ken O’Toole stated that there needs to be a predictable, proportionate, fair and objective approach by the Government on business rates to encourage private businesses to continue investing in growth-enabling infrastructure.  

To read more on MAG’s annual results for 2025/26, click here. 

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The UK’s largest airports group today released annual results showing it handled record passenger numbers while investing heavily in its infrastructure to enhance service and power growth in the regions it serves. 

MAG (Manchester Airports Group) - which runs Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – welcomed more than 66m people through its terminals in the year to 31 March 2026, up 1.9% year-on-year. 

The strong passenger performance was driven by MAG’s core airlines - including Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2.com and TUI -adding new destinations and frequencies to Europe, while the Group also attracted a number of key long-haul routes to its airports for the first time during the period. 

MAG now connects passengers across the country to 284 global destinations, with one in five UK air passengers using a MAG airport. The Group’s annual economic impact increased to £14bn this year and the direct routes its airports provide link the UK to 75% of global GDP. 

The £1.5bn transformation of Manchester Airport neared completion during the year, with the final phases delivered post year-end. The decade-long scheme has doubled the capacity of Terminal 2 - creating a world-class facility for passengers – and unlocked spare capacity on Manchester’s existing two runways. 

That underpinned a strong performance for the UK’s global gateway in the North. It handled a record 32.3m passengers during the year, up 3.6%. London Stansted handled 30m passengers for the first time in its history. East Midlands handled 4m. 

While continuing to grow, all MAG airports delivered strong service levels. Across the year, 99% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less, with more than 90% saying they would recommend the airport they used. 

This sets MAG up to deliver a positive summer season, as the aviation industry navigates the impact of the Middle East conflict. The variety of its route networks and focus on choice and value mean passenger volumes have continued to grow each month in the new financial year, with the number of seats on sale heading into the summer up on 2025. 

MAG’s travel services business, CAVU, also grew its global footprint. It now operates 32 airport lounges internationally and sells travel products and services in 58 countries.

In a new venture, MAG was appointed by the Bahamian Government to operate and maintain Grand Bahama International Airport. The first contract of this nature, the appointment reflects the Group’s track record of driving growth through investment in the regions it serves.  

The positive performance of all MAG’s business units saw it post revenues of £1.5bn, up 12.8% on FY25, and an adjusted EBITDA of £614.4m, up 7.7% year-on-year. Operating profit stood at £303.9m, up 15.5% on FY25. During the year, MAG invested £561.7m. It is the largest investor in transport infrastructure outside London. 

MAG increased the amount of cargo it handled by 12.5%, driven primarily by strong growth at East Midlands, the UK’s largest pure freight airport. It accounted for a third of all cargo growth in the UK, with seven new airlines starting operations at the airport. 

During the year, London Stansted secured permission to grow passenger volumes up to 51m over the next two decades. MAG has plans to invest £1.1bn in the airport to grow to 43m passengers, which it intends to progress in earnest in the new financial year. They include a terminal extension and other supporting infrastructure, which will enable it to play an even greater role supporting the growth of London and the OxCam growth corridor. 

However, the group cautioned its long-term ability to invest in infrastructure will be undermined if the Government does not reach a predictable, proportionate, fair and objective agreement with the airports sector on business rates. Rates liabilities are already set to more than double and represent MAG’s largest non-employee cost line. 

 MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: 

“We are pleased to release these solid results, underpinned by record passenger volumes at our airports. That reflects our steadfast focus on maximising the choice of direct destinations people can access through our airports, which serve catchments areas covering 70% of the UK population. 

“We work hard with our airlines to provide this connectivity at great value and invest in our people, facilities and systems to provide a good airport experiences for our 66m passengers. 

“By growing our route networks, we help people experience new places and enable trade and investment in high-value sectors that will power growth and productivity in regions across the UK. That has seen MAG deliver its biggest ever economic contribution to the UK, at £14bn. 

“We have continued to invest for growth, in particular by delivering the final phases of Manchester Airport’s £1.5bn Transformation Programme. It unlocks spare capacity on its exiting two runways and paves the way for it to play an even greater role in the creation of a globally-competitive Northern Growth Corridor. 

“We were pleased to secure permission to grow passenger numbers at London Stansted up to 51m and are poised to deliver a £1.1bn investment programme to take us towards that.  

“Our long-term ability to continue growth-enabling investments of this nature is influenced by the fiscal environment in which we operate. The current Government has been hugely supportive of aviation in policy terms, but risks undermining that with a tax regime that creates a barrier to investment-led growth. MAG’s business rates have already more than doubled and there remains no clarity on what airports’ future liabilities will look like. 

We have recently responded to a government consultation on business rates, with MAG stating that any change needs to deliver outcomes that are fair, predictable, proportionate and encourage future private sector investment. 

“Outside of our core airports business, CAVU continues to show good growth as we expand our global footprint and the variety of products traded through its digital marketplace.  

“The diversity of our business gives us a resilience that leaves us well placed to navigate the macroeconomic factors our industry faces and look forward to delivering a robust summer season.  

“I am proud of the progress we made this year towards our sustainability targets, reducing emissions in our own operations and the UK exceeding the Government’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel mandate for 2025. We also continued deliver our industry-leading Skills Programme, highlighted by the Careers Festivals delivered across the Group. 

“None of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our more than 8,000 colleagues. I would like to thank all of them for their commitment they have shown which has been central to this year’s performance and will be key to our continued success.” 

 Manchester Airport 

• Manchester served 32.3m passengers for the first time its history, up 3.6% on FY25.
• The £1.5bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme neared completion – delivering a number of new developments including the opening of Pier 2 in October – increasing aircraft stand capacity. A new section of the departure lounge also opened, with new retail offerings including the Great Northern Market food hall
• A multi-million-pound investment in Terminal 3 was also announced to enhance passenger experience – with the first phase of new retail units opening in March
• Manchester’s long-haul connectivity strengthened as Norse started a new direct route to Bangkok – creating the first ever direct connection to the Thai capital from outside of London. It recently announced an increase to its schedule growing to a four-times-weekly service in winter 2026. Air Canada announced it was growing its operation by introducing a four-weekly service to Toronto from winter 2026, making this a year-round operation for the first time, and Pakistan International Airlines also resumed its direct service to Islamabad.
• Qatar also moved to a four-times daily service in summer 2025 meaning we now offer a bigger schedule compared with other European capital cities 
• Additionally, Juneyao, Hainan and Cathay Pacific grew in summer 2025 which created daily services to Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong for the first time.
• The airport’s short haul network also increased – with Ryanair, easyJet, Jet2.com and TUI expanding their route networks across Europe. 

 London Stansted Airport 

• London Stansted Airport served 30m annual passengers for the first time in its history, up 0.4% year-on-year.
• It continues to serve more European destinations than any other UK airport, and this year continued to expand its route network.  Most notably, Turkish Airlines announced it would commence a twice-daily service to Istanbul – connecting millions of passengers to the Turkish capital and onward global destinations.
• New carriers at the airport included Dutch airline Transavia with a route to Rotterdam, and Air Algerie who announced a direct service to Algiers.
• Among existing carriers, Ryanair announce a new route to Lubeck in Germany and easyJet commenced a new service to Paris Charles De Gaulle.
• In recognition of the critical role it plays in delivering connectivity and economic prosperity for London and the East of England, in December, London Stansted received planning permission to increase its passenger cap from 43m to 51m over the next 20 years.
• This increase would make best use of its existing spare runway capacity, without adding any additional flights than are currently permitted.
• This outcome supports the airport’s £1.1bn investment programme which includes a £700m extension to the terminal building. In FY26, as part of the scheme the airport opened its new domestic arrivals building – improving experience for passengers. 

 East Midlands Airport 

• East Midlands Airport’s performance was in line with last year, once again serving 4.0m passengers.
• Across the year, the airport’s airlines continued to add new routes to its network of popular European destinations. Celebrating its 15^th year of operation from the airport, Jet2.com announced new routes to Budapest and Berlin, alongside capacity increases on its services to Corfu, Malaga, Faro, Alicante, Paphos and Tenerife. TUI also announced two new routes to Boa Vista in Cape Verde, and Burgas in Bulgaria.
• It continues to be the home of the UK’s largest pure freight operation - handling more than 413,000 tonnes of cargo across the financial year, up 12.5%.
• This year East Midlands welcomed seven new carriers to its cargo network – further expanding its global trade reach.
• That included Chinese logistics firm YunExpress which launched its first UK route with a twice weekly service to China. Alongside this, Atlas Air, Saudi Cargo and Ethiopian Cargo all commenced services from the airport to Asia and the United Arab Emirates.
• The airport announced its plans to meet the future demand for freight – which York Aviation found is set to increase by 54% over the next two decades.
• This investment would add 50 hectares of cargo capacity – increasing volumes to more than 580,000 tonnes per annum. This could support up to £3.4bn in economic contributions to the regional economy. 

 CAVU 

• MAG’s global travel services CAVU – which offers a range of digital and physical products to enhance the airport passenger journey – continued to see its international presence grow across FY26.
• The division posted revenues of £288.7m, up 26.3% year-on-year.
• It now has a presence in 399 airports across 58 countries.
• CAVU’s airport lounge network grew across the year – now operating 32 lounges across 25 airports. It opened its first lounge in Australia at Brisbane Airport, alongside new sites in the US including Northwest Arkansas, Portland, San Juan, and Tulsa. 

 Creating a sustainable future for all 

MAG’s performance across the year was underpinned by progress it made against the delivery of its new Sustainability Strategy, Creating a sustainable future for all.  

Demonstrating leadership across both pillars of the Strategy – Protecting the Environment and Community at our Core – the Group worked to ensure that its airports can continue to deliver long-term economic and societal benefits while supporting a more sustainable future for UK aviation. 

In pursuit of its target to achieve net zero carbon operations (scope 1 and 2) by 2038, MAG continued to roll out the use of onsite vehicles powered by electricity and Biodiesel, and progressed on the construction of the 12.3 megawatt solar farm at London Stansted – the first of its kind at a London airport. 

In July, MAG welcomed the Government’s announcement of Advanced Fuel Fund to support for the creation of a domestic industry for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The fund provided £4.5m to Essar and NorthPointe Energy who are developing SAF projects at Stanlow, close to Manchester Airport. This was set against figures from the Department for Transport which showed that SAF made up 2.4% of UK aviation fuel in 2025, exceeding the Government mandate of 2%. 

As part of its pioneering approach to skills and employment, MAG held the UK’s first Aviation Careers Festivals across its airports, attracting more than 1,500 students from schools and colleges across the North, Midlands and South. 

Supported by the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority’s Reach for the Sky Fund, the events showcased aviation career opportunities while helping build a future talent pipeline for the sector and reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). 

Click here to read the full MAG annual report. 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) recorded a busy half-term period serving 6.2m passengers in May, an increase of 2.4% year-on-year.  

That brought MAG’s rolling 12-month passenger total to 66.4m passengers, an increase of 1.4% year-on-year. The group operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports. 

A small part of Manchester Airport’s passenger operations continued to be affected by ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Despite this, the airport still marked a record-breaking month – serving 2.9m passengers across May – which was a 0.4% increase on 2025.  The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total was 32.2m passengers, a 2.3% increase year-on-year.  

London Stansted served 2.9m passengers up 4.5% increase on 2025 and a record for the month of May.  This took the airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total to 30.2m passengers, 0.9% increase on last year.   

East Midlands airport welcomed more than 456,000 passengers across May, a 2.1% increase on 2025. The airport handled more than 36,000 tonnes of cargo across the month, up 5% year-on-year.  

Operational performance remained strong throughout the busy half-term period. 100% of passengers at London Stansted passed through security in 15 minutes or less. The figure was 99% at East Midlands and 94% at Manchester Airport.  

 Passengers: 

 Cargo: 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is backing the Government’s call for business-led skills and employment programmes to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET). 

MAG – the UK’s largest airports group – supported more than 350 NEET students in the last year through its pre-employment programme – with almost half securing employment. The Group showcased how its skills and employment programme was tackling the issue at a reception it hosted in Parliament yesterday.

 This followed the publication of the Milburn review, which identified that nearly 1m young people aged 16-24 are NEET - pointing to a ‘systemic failure’ which could cost up to £125bn annually.

Speaking to MPs and senior representatives from the Department for Transport, Department for Education, Department for Work and Pensions and HM Treasury, MAG showcased how it is creating a pipeline of future talent for the aviation sector – having supported more than 52,000 job seekers since 2020.

 It said that collaboration with Government and education providers, long-term investment, and clear pathways into employment will be critical as the sector continues to grow and demand for skilled workers increases.

 At the event, attendees heard from the Rt Hon. Dame Diana Johnson MP, Minister for Employment who spoke about the positive impact MAG’s partnership with her department was having on getting young people into employment across the North, Midlands and South and how the Group is a leader in employer-led solution to tackling NEETs.

 MAG's on-site Airport Academies work directly with DWP, and train around 900 jobseekers a year, preparing them for live vacancies. The sector-based pre-employment programme sees around 50% of participants move into employment, outperforming national employment outcomes typically achieved through comparable pre-employment support programmes.

 Bringing MAG’s programmes to life, MPs had the opportunity to speak to current students and successful job seekers about their experiences. Lewis, Imogen and Jamie, were introduced to the sector through the Aerozone at Manchester Airport and have now gone on to full-time roles. Harry, Daniel and Olly all attend Stansted Airport College, taking vocational courses with the hope of going into employment on the airport campus, or continuing their aviation studies at University.

At the centre of MAG’s trailblazing approach to education and skills is Stansted Airport College – the UK’s only aviation dedicated further education facility based at an airport – delivered in partnership with Harlow College. The College provides more than 500 students a year with direct access to aviation-focused training and employment opportunities. In 2024/25 more than 98% -College graduates went directly into sector employment or further study.

 Owing to high demand, MAG outlined its plans to expand the College - increasing the Group’s capacity to train more NEET students and play a full role in tackling future worklessness. The proposed expansion has the support of Essex County Council, MAG and Harlow College. With the planned expansion, the College would unlock the potential of thousands of young people who want to access training linked directly to employment opportunities in the aviation sector.

 With its proven long-term success, MAG has set ambitious targets, as part of its Sustainability Strategy: Creating sustainable future for all - to scale-up the impact of its skills programme. By 2030 the Group will engage with at least 100,000 job seekers and support 70,000 young people through its education and employment initiatives.

 Emma Crossland, MAG Chief People Officer, said:

“The aviation sector needs a strong pipeline of skilled people to support its future growth.

 “As the UKs largest airports group and a major employer in the regions we serve – we understand the critical role business-led employment support can play in creating opportunities and help people develop their skills into long and successful careers in our sector.

 “The Milburn Review shone a spotlight on the scale of the challenge facing the UK – and now we need to seize this moment to engage our young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET)

 “Through our Airport Academies, Aerozones, Manchester Airport Skills Hub and Stansted Airport College, we are already successfully creating clear pathways into employment and helping young people develop the skills and confidence they need thrive in aviation careers.

 “Over the past year alone, we supported more than 350 NEET young people through our pre-employment programmes, while our Airport Academies continue to achieve employment outcomes well above the national average.

 “The positive impact that our programmes are having has been driven by the strong partnerships we have forged across our industry, education and with Government.

“It is important that we continue to strengthen our skills offering with the support of our partners; and capitalise on the potential our initiatives can have on the future success of our sector and everyone who works in it.”

 The Minister for Employment, Dame Diana Johnson, said: 

"Our mission is to Get Britain Working, and that means providing young people with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed. 

 "But government cannot do this alone and I am delighted to have the support of Manchester Airports Group, which is providing real opportunities for hundreds of young people with a genuine pathway into rewarding careers.

 "By working together, we can ensure the next generation has the skills, the confidence and the opportunities to succeed."

 Karen Spencer, Principle and CEO of Harlow College said:

“Stansted Airport College gives young people a clear line of sight to the workplace. By bringing education and industry together on one airport campus, students can see exactly where their learning can take them and the careers that are available to them.

 “The success and continued growth of the College demonstrates the power of employer-led education. Through our partnership with MAG, we are creating opportunities for young people to develop the skills, confidence and experience that employers need, while helping to build the future workforce for a growing aviation sector.

 “As demand for aviation skills continues to increase, expanding Stansted Airport College will enable even more young people to access high-quality training linked directly to employment, helping them realise their ambitions while supporting the long-term growth of the industry.”

 Gemma Marsh, Deputy CEO of Skills England, said:
“At Skills England, we’re committed to working with – and learning from – organisations that are making a big difference in their sectors and local communities. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is a great example of that.

 “The work they’ve been doing, alongside aviation industry partners, to identify skills gaps and help train jobseekers and young people into skilled roles is really impressive.

 “With the Alan Milburn interim report into young people and work putting the scale of the NEET challenge firmly in the spotlight, this new target of supporting 70,000 young people through the MAG skills programme by 2030 couldn’t be more important – or more welcome.”

 Yesterday’s reception forms part of MAG’s wider work with government, education providers and industry partners to support long-term investment in aviation skills and employment pathways.

Global trade confidence is at its lowest level for 12 months, with only one in four exporters expecting to grow sales this quarter.

Just more than half of globally-trading firms (51%) said they increased exports in Q1 2026 – down 12 percentage points on the same period last year.

 And only 34% broke into a new market for the first time in the first three months of the year – down 13 points on Q1 2025.

 The findings of the UK Trade Barometer lay bare the impact of geopolitical issues on export patterns and indicate the Government needs to pull all available levers to kick-start growth in the wider economy.

 That’s according to the UK’s largest airports group, MAG, and the Growing Together Alliance of business groups, which compile the Barometer in partnership with YouGov.

The survey of 2,000 business – representative of all UK regions and industries – asks exporters about their global trade performance in the last three months and expectations for the quarter ahead.

 The latest findings – covering January-March – show the United States remains the biggest single market for UK exporters, with 24% saying they grew sales there in the last quarter, down from 29% a year ago.

 All sectors of the economy saw fewer businesses reporting increased export sales than did a year ago. Only the financial services sector is more confident about growing future overseas sales in Q2 than it was 12 months ago – 32% expect to increase exports this quarter, seven percentage points up on 2025.

 Manufacturers are only marginally less confident than a year ago, with 52% saying they had grown sales in Q1- three percentage points down on Q1 2025.

 Crucially, manufacturers appear to have adapted well to the US tariff regime. In Q1 2026, 20% of manufacturing exporters said they grew sales across the pond – the highest level since Q1 2025 and up from a low of 13% in the previous three months.

 America is also the market they expect to trade strongly with in Q2, with 37% saying they will grow American sales, compared with 38% a year ago and bouncing back from 27% in Q4 2025.

 London remains the best performing UK region, with 60% of firms saying they grew exports in Q, compared with 52% in both the North and the Midlands and 41% in the East of England.

But all regions had fewer businesses reporting increased exports when compared with Q1 2025, with London (-16 percentage points) and the East (-17) showing the sharpest drops.

 Ken O’Toole, CEO of MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – said: “On the one hand, it is positive to see more than half of all businesses saying they increased global sales in the first quarter of the year – that reinforces what we know about the resilience and adaptability of exporters.

 “But the significant year-on-year fall in the number of firms reporting overseas sales growth – coupled with the lowest trade confidence we’ve seen for 12 months – cannot be ignored. Being a services-led, island economy is one of our economic strengths but these figures also show how vulnerable we are to geopolitical shocks.

 “That is why we need to pull all levers at our disposal to kick-start growth. That includes creating a stable and predictable business climate – including predictable, proportionate business rates - that encourages private investment and attracts capital to our shores. 

 “Encouraging investment directly creates economic activity, which is crucial when other parts of the economy may be facing challenges. It builds confidence, creates jobs and delivers the infrastructure globally-focussed businesses need to navigate issues that may be beyond our control when it comes to international trade.”

 The Growing Together Alliance brings together business groups from across the UK regions, including the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Cambridge Ahead and BusinessLDN, among others.

Chair Henri Murison said: “There is a year-on-year fall in both trade and confidence about the prospects for growth of it across the country, which goes to show the cumulative impact global issues like tariffs and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine can have. We should all be concerned.

 “The Chancellor is rightly focused on growth. I know she believes it cannot be London or the North, the North or the Oxford–Cambridge Corridor or any region at the expense of another. We need the whole country firing on all its cylinders and that means government using every lever available to empower the places with the greatest potential to make a greater contribution.”

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served 5.5m passengers in April, a 0.6% increase on the same month in 2025. 

The Group – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports - had a rolling 12-month passenger total of 66.3m passengers, an increase of 1.5% year-on-year.   

Reflective of ongoing situation in the Middle East, 2.6m passengers travelled through Manchester Airport in April – down 2.6% on the same month last year. The airport’s rolling 12-month total stood at 32.3m passengers, up 2.7% year-on-year. 

Owing to its extensive European network 2.6m passengers travelled through London Stansted in April - a 3.2% increase on the same month last year.  Its rolling 12-month passenger total was 30.1m passengers, a 0.5% increase.  

East Midlands welcomed more than 337,000 passengers in April, a 5.5% increase year-on-year. The rolling 12-month total of 4m passengers was a slight decrease of 0.6% year-on-year. The Airport handled more than 34,000 tonnes of cargo across the month, up 24% on the same month last year.   

 All three airports saw strong operational performance across April. At London Stansted 100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. At Manchester Airport and East Midlands, the figure was 99%.  

Passengers: 

Cargo: 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served a record 66.3m passengers in the year to March 2026, a 1.9% increase year-on-year.  

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – welcomed 4.7m passengers across March, a slight decrease of 0.1%. 

Despite disruption to Middle East services, Manchester handled 2.3m passengers, a 1.1% increase on March 2025. 

That brought its rolling 12-month total to 32.3m, up 3.6% year-on-year. 

The Middle East conflict saw Stansted’s monthly total dip slightly. It also handled 2.3m passengers in March, which was down 1.5% on last year.  

It ended the financial year with a rolling total of 30m – up 0.4% on the previous 12 months. 

East Midlands Airport served more than 206,000 passengers, a 3.6% increase year-on-year. The airport marked another positive cargo performance carrying more than 37,000 tonnes of cargo across the month, an increase of 6.2% year-on-year.  

Operational performance remained strong throughout the period across all three airports. London Stansted saw 100% of passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less. At Manchester Airport the figure was 98% and at East Midlands 99%.   

Passengers:  

Cargo: 

·       The Festivals have been supported by the Department for Transport and CAA’s Reach for the Sky Fund

 Thousands of young people have been inspired to explore careers in aviation as Manchester Airports Group (MAG) completed its UK-wide Careers Festival roadshow at East Midlands Airport.

The event marked the third and final event of the programme, following successful events at London Stansted and Manchester Airports earlier this year. Collectively, the three Festivals attracted more than 1500 young people aged 14-19, designed to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available across the aviation sector.

The Careers Festival series has been funded through the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority’s ‘Reach for the Sky’ initiative, which aims to inspire future aviation talent and improve awareness of the sector among young people.  

MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, which owns and operated Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. Through its nationwide reach, MAG is uniquely positioned to provide young people across the country with access to careers in aviation and the chance to meet potential future employers face-to-face.

Yesterday’s event welcomed more than 500 students from schools and colleges across the East Midlands. The young people had the opportunity to engage directly with airport employers, take part in hands-on activities, and hear from industry professionals about their career journeys.

Students explored the diverse range of roles available across the airport environment – from engineering and air traffic control to security, customer service, logistics and hospitality – reflecting the breadth of careers that keep a modern airport running.

More than 15 employers and partners from across the airport site and wider aviation industry took part, delivering interactive demonstrations including flight simulators, technology showcases and practical challenges designed to bring aviation careers to life.

One of the speakers at the event was Lauren Turner, East Midlands Airport’s Operations Director who was recently appointed by the Department for Transport as an Aviation Ambassador – a role which aims to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

 Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO said:

“Our Careers Festival programme has been all about inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals and opening young people’s eyes to the breadth of opportunities they can explore in our sector.

“As a major employer across the three regions we serve we have a responsibility to create meaningful experiences that help build a strong pipeline of future talent. That is why it was so important to host these events to each our airports to ensure that young people across the country could feel the same positive impact they deliver.

“I am proud that through this initiative we have reached thousands of young people, and I am optimistic about the breadth of talent we will see entering careers in aviation as a result.”

Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said:

“We’re showing young people routes into aviation by investing £85,000 to support MAG careers fairs and festivals, including in the East Midlands – breaking down barriers to opportunity, highlighting skilled opportunities that deliver growth, and encouraging the next generation to aim for the sky.”

“The UK has a proud history in aviation, and we’re propelling this into the future by inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.”

 Lauren Turner, Operations Director at East Midlands Airport said: “This is the first time we have staged an Aviation Careers Festival, and it fits perfectly with my new role as Aviation Ambassador to help showcase opportunities for diverse and disadvantaged communities by shining a light on the wide range of aviation jobs that are available.

“The festival has been designed as an immersive, high impact event showcasing careers in action. Real professionals, real equipment and real experiences, enabling students to connect authentically with a diverse range of career pathways.

“We’re proud to host such an inspiring event for local young people. As one of the largest single-site employers in the East Midlands, the airport offers a huge range of exciting career paths, and this festival gives students the chance to experience that first-hand.”

The Careers Festival series forms part of MAG’s wider education and skills programme, helping to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the aviation sector by nurturing the next generation of talent.

·       It aims to encourage businesses to reduce waste and re-use materials to help drive economic growth

·       MAG already delivers circularity initiatives, donating left children’s buggies at Manchester and London Stansted airports to local baby banks

·       The Group has a number of commitments to recycling in its Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all

The UK’s largest airports group has signed up to the new Circularity in Practice initiative, inspired by His Majesty King Charles III.

The scheme was launched during a visit by His Majesty The King to Manchester. It encourages businesses to collaborate to reduce waste and promote re-use, driving economic growth as a result.  

MAG’s pledge to support the initiative builds on its long-standing commitment to creating a sustainable future for all, set out in its five-year Sustainability Strategy.

The Group owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports alongside digital travel services business, CAVU. As a signatory, MAG will work with partners to identify opportunities to make greater use of circularity across its supply chain – extending the life cycle of products and materials from its airport, and integrating reuse practices in its procurement, construction and operational processes.

Joining the new initiative is the latest in MAG’s commitment to reuse - building on more than two decades of progress. The Group already delivers circularity initiatives – with any child buggies in left luggage at Manchester and London Stansted donated to baby banks and charities across local communities. The scheme ensures luggage does not end in landfill and gives back to local communities.

In 2024/25, 100% of MAG’s waste was diverted from landfill, and last year the Group set a number of new targets in its latest Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all including a commitment to reuse or recycle 80% of airport waste by 2030.

Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO said:

“By signing the Circularity in Practice pledge, we are reinforcing MAG’s commitment to putting sustainability at the core of how we operate. With airports spanning the North, Midlands and South, our supply chains and interactions with organisations and communities are vast – and we should continue to leverage reuse at every opportunity and reap the environmental, societal and economic benefits.

 “I am proud that MAG is a signatory of the Circularity in Practice initiative – and I look forward to working with partners to reduce waste, maximise reuse and help drive the transition to a more circular economy in the UK. I also take pride in the circular initiatives MAG has already been delivering over recent years, forming part of our ambitious and credible commitments to creating a sustainable future for all.”

Manchester Airports Group (MAG)) welcomed 4.2m passengers in February – up 0.6% year-on-year.  

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – served 66.3m passengers across the rolling 12-month period, a 2.1% increase on the same period last year.  

Manchester Airport handled 2.1m passengers across the month, an increase of 2.3% year-on-year. Its 12-month rolling passenger total stood at 32.2m – up 3.8% on the same period in 2025.  

London Stansted Airport’s annual passenger remained above 30m, this month up 1.0% on 2025.  Across February 2.0m passengers travelled through the airport, a slight decrease of 0.8% year-on-year.  

East Midlands Airport welcomed more than 138,000 passengers across the month, with a 12-month rolling passenger total of more than 3.9m. 

Operational performance remained strong across all three airports ensuring passengers a smooth airport experience during the half-term period. At East Midlands, 100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. At Manchester Airport and London Stansted, the figure was 99%.  

Passengers:  

Cargo: 

British exporters pivoted away from America over the last 12 months, sharpening their focus on European and eastern markets as the year progressed. 

The shift away from the US was most stark among manufacturers, as they targeted new territories to mitigate the impact of President Trump’s tariffs, according to the latest UK Trade Barometer.  

Their order books increasingly featured China, Japan, Australia and several EU nations over the course of the year – a trend that looks set to continue in 2026. 

Meanwhile, Britain's status as a services superpower shone through as finance firms recorded their strongest quarter yet in Q4. Not impacted by White House tariffs, America remained a top market, with Canada becoming increasingly important during 2025.  

Britain’s strength in supplying construction services was another key trend – the sector consistently recorded the highest percentage of firms reporting export uplifts during 2025 – sales to Japan surged during the year. 

Another consistent theme was the gulf between London and the regions when it came to export performance. That presents an opportunity for Ministers as they look to jump-start productivity through the delivery of the Government’s industrial strategy, according to the UK's largest airports group, MAG.  

The UK trade barometer surveys 2,000 businesses across the country every quarter. It is representative of industrial sectors and UK regions. Run in partnership with YouGov, it asks firms about their global trading habits in the past quarter and their expectations for the quarter ahead.  

The Barometer is delivered by MAG - which owns and operates Manchester, East Midlands and London Stansted - alongside the Growing Together Alliance of business groups.  

The latest findings cover Q4 and present the first full picture of the whole of 2025: 

Stagnant pond 

• The shift away from America was seen across all sectors. Just 24% said they had increased US sales in Q4, having fallen progressively from 29% at the start of 2025.
• When asked which global market they had entered for the first time in Q4, 14% said America, down from 20% in Q1.
• Looking forward, 13% of all businesses surveyed in Q4 said they expected to start trading America for the first time in the next three months – the same percentage as in Q1.
• By contrast, nine separate markets have grown sharply in popularity over the past 12 months. In Q4, 10% of firms said the planned to increase sales to Australia (vs Q1: 6%), with Spain (Q4: 6% vs Q1: 5%) and New Zealand (Q4: 6% vs Q1: 2%) also showing gains during the year. 

Making waves in different directions  

• Nearly half (46%) of all manufacturers said they had increased exports over the last three months in Q4. But only 16% said they had increased sales to America in Q4 – that has fallen from 25% in Q1.
• By the end of the year, 12% of manufacturers said they had grown sales to China, a rate that doubled from 6% in Q1. Japan increased from 4% in Q1 to 8% by Q4.
• It was a similar story when looking at markets manufacturers broke into for the first time. In the first three months of 2025, 15% reported breaking America. By Q4, it was just 8%.
• By contrast, by the end of year 9% of manufacturers said they had sold to China for the first time, up from 4% in Q1. Those saying they’d cracked Japan grew from 2% in Q1 to 9% in Q4.
• Australia also rose in importance, up from 4% in Q1 to 8% by the final quarter.
• Seven different EU states saw strong gains, with France, Germany and Spain become the most popular new European markets by the end of the 2025. 

At your service 

• Financial services had its strongest quarter at the end of the year, with 59% reporting increased overseas sales, up 8% on Q3
• The year started with 25% saying they grew sales to the US and that’s exactly how it ended
• It was the sector with the highest sales increases to India – with 5% saying they grew sales there in Q4, while Canada grew in popularity (Q4: 11% vs Q1: 5%) 

Mind the gap 

• All parts of the UK had their weakest three months of overseas sales in Q4 – but the gap between London and the regions widened in the second half
• In Q4, 64% of London exporters said they grew overseas sales, compared with 50% in the North and 47% in the Midlands
• But in Q1just seven percentage points separated London (76% increasing exports) and the North (69%) and there was only a six percentage point gap in Q2 (London – 63%; North – 57%)
• There are also significant gaps in confidence. When asked about the quarter ahead, 44% of London firms expected to grow exports, with 33% expecting to enter a new market for the first time
• In the North, 27% expected to grow sales and 18% to enter a new market.
• All regions expect sales to America to bounce back in the first part of this year. In London, 43% expect and uplift in US exports, up from 37% in Q3
• The North was the only region to see fewer firms forecast export increases to America – 46% vs 50% in Q3 – but that was up on the first quarter of 2025, when just 40% expected sales growth 

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: “As an island trading nation, we know how important our export performance is to the overall economic health of the UK. “This full-year data shows the direct impact global events can have on businesses’ order books – but it also shows that British exporters are skilled at diversifying and pivoting to new markets – harnessing the resilience and innovation of our globally trading firms will be important if we want to kick-start growth.

“While some economic indicators point to a potential upturn in growth during the course of 2026, the fact fewer than one in three exporters expect to increase sales in the first part of this year paints a slightly different picture.  

“As Government looks to deliver its Industrial Strategy, there is a clear opportunity to be grasped: by growing the number of firms that trade globally, we can boost productivity and living standards in regional growth corridors across the UK, from the Northern Growth Corridor to the Ox-Cam Arc. It is vital Government works with business to understand the steps it could take to help more firms trade internationally, including encouraging investment in the infrastructure that unlocks international connectivity.” 

Henri Murison, chair of the Growing Together Alliance, said: "Over the course of 2025 we’ve seen a clear recalibration in UK trade patterns. While America remains a vital market, particularly for manufacturers, exporters have increasingly diversified as conditions have shifted. This reflects geopolitical realities, but also the adaptability and resilience of UK firms. 

“The pivot to markets like Asia and Europe is notable – and if the Prime Minister can negotiate it then further reduced trade barriers with the latter it would make trade with countries in the European Union easier without allowing accusations of Brexit betrayal that a full-blown customs union could lead to.” 

 “The continued strength of London is welcome, and the priority should now be ensuring that export-led growth is not confined there but supports further increasing productivity across all regions. 

“With the Spring Statement next week, there is an opportunity to reinforce the economic fundamentals which the Chancellor has focused on. This will allow her to continue backing significant and ambitious growth across the North and OxCam corridors underpinned by infrastructure.” 

Notes to editor: 

About MAG   

Manchester Airports Gorup (MAG) is an international travel services and infrastructure business. It is the largest UK airports group, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports alongside global travel services business, CAVU.   

It is the UK’s largest private investor in transport infrastructure outside of London and each year contributes £11.4bn to the UK economy. In 2024/25 the Group served 65m passengers, meaning that one in five UK air travellers uses a MAG airport.  

MAG is committed to shaping the future of sustainable travel through its Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all, with a target to reach net zero carbon operations by 2038. 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served a record 4.1m passengers in January, a 3.7% increase on January 2025. 

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands - saw a rolling 12-month total of 66.2m passengers, up  2.4% year-on-year.  

The Group’s performance was largely driven by record passenger numbers at Manchester Airport. The Northern hub welcomed 2.0m passengers across January - a 5.5% increase year-on-year. The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total was 32.2m, a 4.1% increase on January 2025.  

London Stansted welcomed 1.9m passengers in January, a 2.0% increase year-on-year. The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total was 30.1m, a 1.3% increase on last year.  

Home to the largest pure freight operation in the UK, East Midlands Airport handled more than 32,000 tonnes of cargo in January, a 16% increase compared to the same period last year.  The airport served more than 138,000 passengers across the month, a 1.6% increase year-on-year. 

MAG began the year with strong operational performance across all three of its airports. At East Midlands and London Stansted Airport, 100% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. The figure was 99% at Manchester Airport.  

 Passengers:  

 Cargo:  

·       First event held at London Stansted, attracting more than 500 young people from neighbouring communities

·       Events set to be held at Manchester and East Midlands Airport in the coming months

Thousands of young people are learning about the exciting careers they can pursue in aviation, as the UK’s largest airports group launched a nationwide Careers Festival roadshow.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) - backed by the Department for Transport and Civil Aviation Authority’s Reach for the Sky Fund – is holding the festivals to provide young people from its neighbouring communities the opportunity to meet potential future employers face-to-face.

MAG is uniquely placed to inspire young people the length and breadth of the country, with airports in the North (Manchester), Midlands (East Midlands) and South (London Stansted).

The first Careers Festival was held at Stansted yesterday, attended by more than 500 students aged 14-19, from 12 schools across Essex and Hertfordshire. Managing Director Gareth Powell opened the event, with a keynote speech delivered by Cllr Petrina Lees, the Leader of Uttlesford District Council.

 Aviation Minister Keir Mather said:

“Through our Reach for the Sky programme we’ve invested over £800,000 in the last year – including £85,000 for Manchester Airports Group’s careers festivals – helping give thousands of young people opportunities to learn about the varied career paths into aviation.

“The UK has a proud aviation heritage, and alongside leading industry players, we’re inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can thrive and build rewarding futures.”

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said:

“The launch of our Careers Festival roadshow is our latest commitment to inspiring the next generation of aviation professionals and about careers in our sector.

“With airports spanning the length of the UK, we understand our responsibility as major employer to provide positive and meaningful experiences that ensure young people understand the breath of careers opportunities on offer to them at our airports.

“Creating a pipeline of future talent for our industry is vital to its future success, and I am proud of the role MAG is playing – working together with Government, regulators and industry partners - to deliver that.”

 Exhibitors at the Stansted event  included The Royal Aeronautical Society, Ryanair Engineering, Jet2.om, and Swissport, alongside a number of departments from MAG including early talent, landside and airside operations and environment.  They delivered hands-on activities and tech demonstrations, from flight simulators to an AI photo booth, designed to showcase the skills and technology behind modern aviation.

Students also attended a number of sessions, where industry professionals including shared insights into their specialist areas, helping young people understand the diverse roles and pathways available in the sector.

Brenda Jefcoate, STEM Lead at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “These events are a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn about the huge variety of careers in aviation, and we’re really excited to be supporting Manchester Airport Group in encouraging the next generation.”

“With new technologies and challenges, bringing in new talent is essential for the aviation system to grow, and we are keen to support similar projects which connect with local communities.”

Gareth Powell, Managing Director at London Stansted, said:

“We’re proud to have hosted such an inspiring event for local young people. London Stansted offers a huge range of exciting careers, and this festival gives students the chance to experience that first-hand and see those opportunities brought to life. Our partners and colleagues did a fantastic job showcasing the skills and technology that keep our airport running.”

Louis Mason from New Hall School, Chelmsford, who hopes to pursue a career as a pilot. He said:

“I had no idea how many different jobs there are at London Stansted or the different ways you can get into them. It was great to speak to people who work there and take part in the interactive activities. It’s really opened my eyes to future career options and made me even more excited about flying.”

 MAG is a major employer in the regions its serves - directly employing more than 7,000 people across its airport sites and supporting a total of 42,000 jobs in the North, Midlands and South.  

Building a future talent pipeline for the aviation sector and creating opportunity for all is a core pillar of MAG’s Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all. The Group has a long-standing grass roots education and skills programme, supporting young people from the age of four – 18 through its on-site Aerozones, Airport Academies and the UK’s only aviation dedicated further education facility, Stansted Airport College.

As part of its Strategy, the Group is committed to supporting 70,000 young people through its educations and skills programme by 2030.

MAG is also set to host Careers Festivals at Manchester Airport on 24 February and at East Midlands Airport on 26 March, where more than 1,000 young people from schools and colleges across the North West and East Midlands are set to attend.