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.  

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·       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.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – has been nominated under the ‘Large Organisation’ category which recognises businesses that are driving change to create opportunities that allow everyone to thrive.

The recognition follows the publication of the Group’s new EDI Strategy last year, which sets out its ambition to become a leader in inclusive excellence in the UK aviation sector.

Forming part of its industry leading approach, MAG also launched the UK aviation sector’s first EDI forum – ‘Aviation for All’. The forum brings together partners from across the industry to share best practice to drive inclusivity.

Northern Power Women - the organisation behind the nomination – is a collaborative campaign to accelerate gender diversity across the North of England. Its annual awards have now grown to be Europe’s largest celebration of equality – recognising individuals and organisations who are working to drive lasting change within their sectors and communities.

Emma Crossland, MAG’s Chief People Officer said: “We are proud to be shortlisted for this award, which recognises the positive steps we have taken to create an inclusive culture for everyone at MAG.

“Our colleagues – our Journey Makers – are at the heart of everything we do and working to ensure that we create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered is critical to the success of our business.

“We are committed to continuing on a positive trajectory towards inclusive excellence within our sector and the regions we serve.”

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served 66m passengers across 2025 – the highest 12-month passenger total in the Group’s history. That was 2.2% higher than in 2024. 

The year was rounded-off with a bumper December for MAG - which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. During the month, the three airports served 4.8m during the festive period, an increase of 3.9% year-on-year.  

Manchester Airport welcomed 2.4m passengers through its terminals in December, a 5.9% increase year-on-year.  The airport’s rolling 12-month total was 32.1m passengers, an increase of 4.2% compared to the same period in 2024.  

London Stansted marked its busiest year on record, serving 30m passengers across 2025, the first time it has hit that milestone. That was a 0.9% increase year-on-year. Across December 2.3m passengers flew out of the London airport, a 1.6% increase year-on-year.  

In December, Stansted secured planning approval to increase its passenger limit from 43m to 51m per year. This lays the foundations for the long-term sustainable growth of the airport, allowing it to maximise the full potential of its existing runway capacity - without the need for additional flights. The expansion of the airport will provide widespread social and economic benefits, with the potential for Stansted’s economic contribution to double to £2bn per year once complete.  

East Midlands Airport served more than 166,000 passengers during the month of December, a 6.3% increase year-on-year. The airport saw a rolling 12-month total of 4m passengers, a slight decrease of 4.3% year-on-year. The airport’s cargo operation saw volume increase significantly in December – carrying more than 37,000 tonnes of freight across the month - an increase of 37.1% year-on-year.  

December saw strong operational performance across all three airports, with 99% of passengers at London Stansted and East Midlands passing through security in 15 minutes or less. The figure at Manchester Airport was 98%.  

Over the course of 2025, MAG continued to invest heavily in its infrastructure for growth. That included major progress on its £1.3bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme. A series of key milestones were reached, with the programme set to conclude in the coming months. It has seen Terminal 2 more than double in size, unlocking the capacity of its existing two runways.  

Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO said: 

“Last year was an historic one for MAG. 

“Record passenger numbers were driven by exciting additions to MAG’s extensive route network. That included the first ever direct links to Mumbai and Delhi from Manchester and many more unique destinations at London Stansted and East Midlands, providing passengers with value and choice across all three of our airports.  

“MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, and we are proud to say one in five UK air passengers use one of our airports.  

“That is why we are investing in the future, to drive economic growth and provide even more choice to passengers in the North, South and Midlands. As the UK’s largest investor in infrastructure outside London, we are set to conclude our historic transformation of Manchester Airport and to progress with significant investment programmes across our group starting this year.” 

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The UK's largest airports group, MAG, has today revealed the travel trends being shaped by the so-called "online generation," with one-in-four now turning to AI to plan their holidays.

Sales of products popular with Gen-Z have soared in terminals, including a six-fold increases in giant Stanley Cup purchases, according to MAG - which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airport.

And hydrating facemasks are booming, with sales of some products up 200% year-on-year, thanks to the "skincare in the sky" trend made popular on social media channels.

As for the destinations most popular with Gen-Z, European city-breaks top the charts, overtaking the "18-30s" package holiday once favoured by previous generations, particularly so-called "boomers."

People classed as Gen-Z were born between 1997 and 2012 and are known as “digital natives.” Here are their travel trends unpacked:

Matcha the day

Matcha is a nutrient-rich Japanese green tea powder, packed with antioxidants and natural energy. It trends across social media as the ultimate wellness drink.

Across all three MAG airports, sales have increased 165% year-on-year.

The biggest increases were seen at London Stansted with a 174% year-on-year growth followed by Manchester with a 144% rise.

That includes at outlets like Pasta Evangelists and chains like Pret a Manger at Manchester and Caffe Nero, Itsu and Krispy Kreme at London Stansted.

While the tired stereotype might have been of young party-animals wolfing an all-day breakfast and downing drinks before their first holiday away together, it seems Gen-Z is more health conscious.

Keen to energise, super smoothies also saw a surge over the last year, with Innocent Energise and Defence smoothies seeing a collective growth in sales of more than 650% year-on-year - the perfect add on to the traditional WH Smith meal deal for the budget-savvy younger generation.

Tik Tok top picks

Airport shops have always been the place to pick up a last-minute bargain – like Premier League football shirts cheaper than club shops – or an item you’ve forgotten to pack, like a swimming costume or pair of flips flops.

But MAG’s data shows the airport terminal is mimicking the high street when it comes to chasing Gen-Z trends.

There’s no better example than Stanley Cup, introduced to JD Sports stores at all three of its airports. The viral accessory has seen sales rocket six-fold since being added to the shelves 12 months ago.

Manchester passengers favour the trendy water bottles the most followed by London Stansted with the overall favourite colour being the rose cup across all three airports. Unsurprisingly, sales peak in the summer months across all airports due to warmer weather driving hydration product demand.

In there like….skincare

Social media channels are also awash with content creators donning sheet masks in their seats as they jet off or completing the perfect skincare routine before landing.

And to do that, they need to stock up at the airport first, it seems.

With the trend of ‘skincare in the sky’ soaring, sales of facemasks sold by Boots and World Duty Free have increased by 399% year-on-year. Garnier facemask from Boots saw the most significant increase in sales with more than 2,000 sold across the year with Manchester Airport passengers picking them up the most before their flights.

Collagen and retinol-based products also prove popular with the online generation. Elemis pro-collagen balm being a top runner for the top under-25 destinations and seeing a 35% growth in sales year-on-year. While the top retinol-based product by Elizabeth Arden, saw a 1,500% growth in sales.  

Happy hol-AI-days

With the use of AI tools like Chat-GPT on the rise, Gen Z are using it as a virtual travel agent to create their perfect holiday. 

A recent social media poll showed that one in four of MAG’s passengers under the age of 25 said they have or intend to use AI to plan their trips. Among those, East Midlands airport saw the largest proportion of the younger generation planning their holidays using these tools. 

But when they grip their handset and instruct “plan my holiday for me,” where are they headed?

Chances are it is on a city break to a top European city. While party capitals on the Med will have dominated the top 10 destination chart with under-25s for decades, they have slowly been overtaken by short break favourites.

Tenerife was the last island hotspot to feature in the top 10 when looking at UK-wide data from the CAA – back in 2024.

It has been overtaken by Dublin, which makes the top three alongside Amsterdam and Barcelona.

New York also proved popular, with travel publication Time Out suggesting that ‘the city that never sleeps’ captivates the young traveller with its diversity, inclusivity and endless opportunities, saying it is ‘officially one of the world’s best cities for Gen Z’.  

Data from the CAA, based on the 2024 annual wrap up, also captures their spirit to travel to lesser known, more undiscovered ‘dupe’ destinations – citing an overall 97% growth in travel by the under 25s to Albania, Bulgaria and Romania since 2023.  While further afield destinations such as Mumbai in India have seen an impressive growth in popularity with the under 25s with a growth of 245% since 2019.  

Andrew MacMillan, MAG Chief Strategy Officer said: 

“As consumer trends evolve, so does the travel industry – that’s both in terms of the destinations we work with our airlines to provide and the kind of products people want to consume in terminals.

“This data shows the influence of our younger passengers – Generation Z - who are curating airport experiences strongly influenced by AI and social media. 

“It is clear these travellers both want to follow trends and set them and, with one in five UK air passengers using our airports, we are pleased to be able to provide the backdrop for that.

“With an ongoing £2bn investment across all three MAG airports, we will continue to focus on how the airport experience can embrace new technology and ensure that it reflects emerging demographics into the future.” 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) had its busiest ever November, with 4.5m passengers travelling through one of its airports, up 2.4% year-on-year. That brings the rolling annual total for the Group – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports –to 65.9m passengers.  

November’s figures come as the UK’s largest airports group prepares for a busy Christmas period. Between 19^th December and 4^th January more than 3m passengers are expected to travel through a MAG airport. 

Manchester Airport saw a record 2.2m passengers travel through its terminals across the month, a 4.3% increase on the same month last year.  Passenger growth was in part driven by the launch of new long-haul services, including IndiGo’s direct service to Delhi, and Norse Airline’s service to Bangkok.  - Manchester is now the only UK airport outside London with a direct connection to both destinations. The Northern gateway’s rolling 12-month passenger total was up 4.5% compared to 2024, at 32m passengers.  

The airport marked key infrastructure milestone across the month, as it nears completion of its decade long transformation programme. Terminal 2’s Pier 2 became operational, increasing capacity which now sees 70% of passengers using the new facilities.  The airport’s new dual taxiway also went into operation, improving the operational efficiency of its two runways.   

 In November 2.1m passengers flew through London Stansted, which was 0.2% up on 2024.  The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger total is 29.9mm - up 1.3% on 2024.  

East Midlands Airport welcomed more than 170,000 passengers in November - an increase of 7.4% year-on-year. Demand for cargo services from the UK’s largest pure freight operation continued to rise. East Midlands handled more than 36,500 tonnes of cargo, an increase of 16.6% compared November 2024.  

Operational performance across the Group remained strong in the lead up to the busy Christmas travel period. 99% of East Midlands and London Stansted passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less, the figure at Manchester Airport was 98%.  

Last week, MAG published its interim results for the six-months ended 30 September, where it posted record passengers numbers of 38m. The Group’s positive performance saw it post an adjusted EBITDA of £405.9m, up 7.4% year-on-year, alongside a profit before tax of £144.6m. This was on revenues of £850.6m, up 10.5% on the same period last year. To read more click here. 

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Record passenger numbers drove the UK’s largest airports group, MAG, to a strong first-half performance, as it continued to invest in its infrastructure for growth.

The Manchester-headquartered Group also saw good growth from its travel services business, CAVU, which now has a presence in more than 300 airports worldwide.

MAG – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – today published its interim results for the period to 30 September, which showed adjusted EBITDA up 7.4% year-on-year to £405.9m. Profit before tax was £144.6m (FY25: £139.6m).

That was on revenues of £850.6m, up 10.5% on the same period in 2024.

The Group said the performance has set it up well to continue its current programme of investment, with Manchester's Terminal 2 transformation due to complete in the second half of this year.

However, it cautioned the more than doubling of business rates announced at last week's Budget would cause it to review wider investment plans and will inevitably lead to price increases for consumers.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: “It is pleasing to report strong interim results, driven by our focus on maximising the choice we give to passengers in all parts of the country.

“One in five UK air passengers use a MAG airport and we are committed to providing them the best possible value when they travel for business, leisure or to visit friends and family. That is reflected in the strong passenger performance we saw in the first half, which drove both revenue and EBITDA growth.

 “Our diversification into global travel services is also working well, with CAVU growing the number of lounges it operates around the world and the variety of products it sells through its digital platform.

“MAG is the largest transport investor outside the M25 and we have plans to build on the historic £1.3bn transformation of Manchester Airport with a further programme of major investment over the next five years. That will unlock growth in the regions we serve, powering the UK economy.

“The Government’s policy support for airport expansion provides a welcome backdrop for that. It has rightly put aviation at the heart of its growth mission. But unprecedented increases to business rates risk holding the sector back by making travel more expensive for consumers and undermining investment cases.

“That is why we need a realistic rates settlement in the Treasury’s upcoming review to give us the confidence to proceed with our investment plans as they are.”

Across the six months, MAG’s airports handled 38m passengers, up 1.9% on the same period last year. Growth was driven by the addition of new routes and extra frequencies from its major airlines, like Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.

It also welcomed a number of new carriers to its airports, some of which started flying to the UK for the first time. That included India’s biggest airline, IndiGo, which started a Mumbai service and has since added a route to Delhi which started earlier this month.

MAG also delivered a strong operational performance across the reporting period, with more than 97% of all passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less at all three of its airports.

Recent data also showed high levels of passenger satisfaction across the Group. Between April and September, 98% of passengers rated their experience at East Midlands Airport as ‘Good, ‘Very Good’ or ‘Excellent’, with the figure standing at 93% at Manchester Airport and 95% at London Stansted.

Divisional summaries:

Manchester Airport

In the first half of the year, Manchester Airport had the busiest summer season in its history – serving 18.5m passengers, up 3.9% on the same period last year.

The airport’s global reach continued to grow over the period, attracting new long-haul carriers. Alongside the IndiGo launches, Norse Atlantic Airways announced a direct route to Bangkok, which started last week. It makes Manchester the only airport outside of London with a direct route to the Thai capital.

With the airport’s decade long £1.3bn transformation programme nearing completion, a series of significant milestones were reached in the first half of the reporting year, including opening of new check-in facilities and an extension to Terminal 2’s departure lounge.

Upon completion, the scheme will unlock the potential of Manchester’s existing runways, enabling growth to 45-50 million passengers per annum (mppa).

London Stansted

A record-breaking six months saw London Stansted serve 16.8m passengers, an increase of 0.6% on FY25.

The airport continues to offer the UK’s most extensive network of European destinations and added several new routes during the period. Royal Air Maroc introduced the first direct flight to Casablanca from Stansted, while Turkish Airlines confirmed it would start 14 weekly flights to Istanbul from March 2026.

Air Algerie also began direct flights to Algiers, while Transavia launched a service to Rotterdam. Emirates’ twice-daily service to Dubai continued to perform well, offering both direct travel and global connections.

In June, the airport submitted a planning application to increase its approved passenger numbers from 43mppa to 51mppa. This increase will be achieved by making best use of Stansted’s existing runway without the need for any increase in its number of aircraft movements.

The airport began construction on its 14.3MW on-site solar farm during the period. The farm – which will be the only one at a London airport – will contribute to Stansted’s current and future energy needs.

East Midlands

Celebrating its 60th year in April, East Midlands cemented its role as the UK’s busiest and fastest-growing pure freight airport.

It handled more than 200,000 tonnes of cargo between April and September. This was an increase of 9.7%  on FY25, with year-on-year growth rates in excess of 20% in some months. That was driven by additions to its cargo network across the period.

In May, Chinese logistics firm YunExpress began a twice weekly service from the airport, marking its first UK route. Atlas Air and Saudia Cargo both started services to the US and China, while Ethiopian Cargo started a twice-weekly flight to China in the summer.

The airport also unveiled its vision to unlock its full cargo potential through a new 100-hectare advanced logistics and manufacturing park, which would meet the estimated 54% growth in demand for express air freight from East Midlands, and create more than 20,000 jobs.

The airport’s development partner, Prologis, has submitted a planning application to North West Leicestershire District Council, with a committee decision expected in early 2026. Subject to approval, construction could begin later in the year.

The airport continued to welcome new routes to its European network. In April, TUI launched a route to Boa Vista, alongside a new route to Burgas in Bulgaria. Jet2.com, celebrating its 15th year operating out of the airport, announced two new routes to Berlin and Budapest. It also introduced extra capacity to Corfu, alongside additional winter capacity for services to Malaga, Alicante, Faro, Malta, Paphos and Tenerife.

CAVU

CAVU is MAG’s digital travel services business. It also operates airport lounges worldwide under the escape brand. In the first half, CAVU continued to scale its global operations, offering digital travel services to more than 300 airports across 48 countries.

Within its Marketplace Division, CAVU scaled it’s Propel platform through several new partnerships with businesses including Expedia, Collinson and Dragon Pass.

It’s airport lounge operations also grew, with openings in Puerto Rico, Tulsa, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Brisbane, as well as several lounge extensions including in Sacramento.

Creating a sustainable future for all

Under its 2025-2030 Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all, MAG is shaping the future of sustainable travel by minimising environmental impacts and acting as a positive force in local communities and the regions it serves.

The Strategy –published in May - builds on more than two decades of consistent focus, which has made sustainability a central strategic business priority across the Group. It sets a number of targets to achieve its sustainability goals, including transitioning to net zero operations by 2038, achieving a 48% reduction in MAG scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions by 2030 and supporting 70,000 young people through MAG’s education programmes over the next five years.

In recognition of its commitment to creating a more sustainable future for all, MAG was pleased to retain its five-star ESG rating for the fifth year in a row from GRESB – a leading independent sustainability benchmarking tool.

"This Government has rightly recognised aviation's role in delivering its growth mission. Its policy support for major infrastructure investment that creates jobs, powers regions and unlocks global trade has been welcome.

“That position is inconsistent with the decision to more than double airports’ business rates bills.

"Airports were already some of the highest rates-payers in the country and were prepared to pay significantly more. 

"But increases of more than 100% mean we have to look again at our plans to invest more than £2bn in our airports across the UK over the next five years.

"It is inevitable air travel will become more expensive as the industry absorbs these costs. That impacts hard-working people throughout the country and makes global trade harder for businesses.

"Unless a realistic long-term settlement is agreed in the upcoming review, the growth of our sector - and the economy - will be held back."

Britain’s powerhouse financial services sector saw global sales surge in the third quarter of the year.

Manufacturers also bounced back in Q3 – by shunning America to head Down Under and target Europe, Canada and the Far East.

Latest findings from the UK Trade Barometer – from MAG and the Growing Together Alliance of business groups – show the impacts of President Trump’s tariffs continue to bite as exporters across the UK divert sales from the US to other markets.

Looking forward, exporters outside of London are feeling increasingly bullish, with bounces in firms in the North and East of England expecting to increase sales in the next three months.

The Barometer – in partnership with YouGov – surveys more than 2,000 firms across the UK and in all business sectors about their trading fortunes in the last three months and intentions for the quarter ahead.

Across all sectors and regions, exporters continued to show their resilience - 55% said they increased global sales in Q3, which was up slightly on Q2. Between July-September, 37% said they entered a new market for the first time, up 2% on the previous three months.

Findings for Q3 include:

The sector that counts

• 51% of finance and accounting firms increased overseas sales in Q3 – 11% more than in Q2 and the highest increase of any sector

• The US was still the top market (19%) but multiple EU countries saw big sales surges, such as France (9% vs 3% in Q2), Ireland (6% vs 3% in Q2), Spain (6% vs 2% in Q2) and Italy (5% vs 1% in Q2)

• More than a third (36%) – also entered a new market for the first time, up 2% on Q2, with the US top but falling in importance and Australia (5%), Kenya (3%), China (3%) in the top 10

• Finance firms are all more confident about Q4, with 27% expecting to increase sales to an existing market vs 23% in Q3

Making moves in new markets

• After a challenging Q2, 50% of manufacturers grew sales to existing markets between July-September, up 6% on Q2

• Australia is now the joint most important market (17%) having seen a 7% bounce since Q2 – the same as the US

• Germany (13% vs 10% in Q2), France (11% vs 9% in Q2), Canada (10% vs 7% in Q2) and Japan (8% vs 5% in Q2) showed good growth, while China (12%) remains in the top five

• Confidence appears to be building, with 38% (vs 37% Q2) expecting to increase sales in Q4 and 21% (vs 19% Q2) set to enter a brand-new market

It’s not you, its US

• America is the country that has seen the sharpest overall drop in sales over the course of this year – 23% of all firms said they grew sales there in Q3, down from 25% in Q2 and 29% in Q1

• Just 13% said they started trading across the pond for the first time, down from 14% in Q2 and 20% in Q1

• Australia is the second most important market for all businesses, with five separate EU nations in the top 10

• Canda, China, the UAE and Japan also make the top 10

Eastern promise and Northern optimism

• Businesses in the East of England showed a spike in global sales in Q3, with 57% increasing exports to existing markets, up 8% on Q2

• They bucked the national trend, with 26% growing sales to America, up from 23% in Q2. Australia also saw a spike, at 11% - up from 8%

• More firms also entered new markets for the first time, at 42% vs 37% in Q2

• And East of England exporters are also more optimistic about the future with 27% expecting to grow sales in Q4, up from just 19% in Q2

• Optimism is also sweeping across the North, where 27% expect to increase Q4 exports, up from 22% last quarter

• Northern exporters have turned away from the US during the course of this year, with just 25% increasing exports there in Q3, down from 36% in Q2

• Looking forward, they are bullish about the UAE, with 12% expecting to grow sales there (vs 5% in Q2) and Canada, at 18% (vs 15% in Q2)

• London continues to perform well, with 67% increasing sales in Q3, up 4% on Q2, and 49% entering a new marketing, also up 4%

Ken O’Toole, CEO of MAG - which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports - said: “The fact exporters navigated a host of macroeconomic issues to grow overseas sales and enter new markets in Q3 speaks volumes about the UK as an island trading nation.

“Following the release of sluggish growth data, this goes to show how critical a role exports play in the overall economic performance of the UK.

“It is also encouraging to see both goods and services firms having a positive quarter – a performance that would almost certainly have been even stronger if it hadn’t been for the issues that impacted UK car production.

“That underlines what we already know: the UK has world-leading specialisms in sectors like financial services, IT and telecoms, alongside a proud history of manufacturing.

“This data shows the UK remains too reliant on London for growth but there are encouraging trends that indicate regional businesses are feeling more optimistic.

“The Government’s Industrial Strategy identifies the sectors being back to boost growth and productivity the most – all sectors that rely on international connectivity more than most.

“As nation, we need a policy environment that not only focusses on supporting high-growth sectors, but on the key enablers of their international success.

“With the Budget just days away, businesses will be looking for clear signals this Government is encouraging – not undermining – public and private sector investment in critical infrastructure – infrastructure that brings businesses across the UK closer to their customers, talent pipeline and key overseas markets.”

Henri Murison, chair of the Growing Together Alliance of business groups, said: “The upbeat findings for London are to be welcomed and through our alliance we are working to drive exports across the wider corridors of the North and OxCam, which are fundamental to UK growth.

“As trade to the US falls back, the growing importance of Europe is an economic reflection of the geopolitical realities of this year – and most likely of our future.

“We know that achieving productivity growth depends on sectors reaching their potential, and the renewed positivity in both manufacturing and financial services is particularly heartening.”

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) recorded its busiest ever October – serving 5.9m passengers across the month, an increase of 1.1% year-on-year.  

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – also had a rolling 12-month total of 65.8m passengers, a 2.9% increase year-on-year.  

Manchester Airport celebrated two full years of record monthly performances in October, serving 2.9m passengers across the month. This was a 2.3% increase on the same month in 2024. The airport’s rolling 12-month total increased by 5.1% year-on-year, standing at 31.9m passengers.  

London Stansted’s extensive European network saw the airport welcome 2.7m passengers through its terminal in October. That was a 0.2% increase year-on-year, and a record for the month. The airport’s rolling 12-month total was 29.9m passengers, a 1.9% increase compared to last year. 

East Midlands, the UK’s largest pure freight airport, handled more than 38,000 tonnes of cargo across the month, a 21.7% increase on October 2024. More than 393,000 passengers used the airport in October, a slight decrease of 1.8% year-on-year.   

Operational performance remained strong as the airports welcomed passengers across the month. At all three airports, 99% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. 

Passengers: 

Cargo: 

An interactive classroom created through the £1.3bn transformation of Manchester Airport has inspired 10,000 young people about aviation careers in five years.

The success of the Manchester Aerozone is one of the highlights of MAG's five-year Sustainability Report, which outlines the work delivered by the UK's largest group of airports to benefit communities, protect the environment and create opportunities for people of all ages.

The Report - Working Together for a Brighter Future - was released today and reveals MAG has supported more than 52,000 people into training or employment since 2020 and given more than £2m to local causes.

Across its three airports - Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands - it has created £18m of business for SMEs in all parts of the UK through a programme of Meet the Buyers events.

Environmentally, MAG has reduced its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 37% over five years and in the last 12 months 99.8% of waste was from landfill.

MAG released its 2024/25 Sustainability Report as it celebrated the fifth birthday of its Manchester Aerozone, a state-of-the-art classroom that welcomes primary, secondary and college students every day of the academic year. MAG has Aerozones at all three of its airports.

To mark the occasion, pupils from Outwood Primary School, Cheadle, Stockport, joined a celebration event, who were also the school in attendance when the facility was opened by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham.

They heard from Lewis Hulmes, who secured a two-year placement working at the Aerozone while studying at Manchester College. He now works as a Customer Service Ambassador. They also heard from Ryan Clarke who attended the Manchester Airport Academy in 2012 and now holds the position of Airside Manager for ABM, the airport’s assisted travel provider.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said: "I am proud to release our five-year Sustainability Report and reflect on the wide range of successful and innovative initiatives we have delivered to reduce our emissions, inspire the next generation of aviation professionals and have a positive impact on the communities surrounding our airports.

"There is no better example of that than the Manchester Aerozone, which demonstrates how the investments we make in our infrastructure leave a lasting legacy for generations to come - as we near completion of the £1.3bn transformation of the airport, it is pleasing to see the 10,000th young person pass through its doors.

“As a major employer across the North, Midlands and South, MAG has a significant role to play in providing skills and employment opportunities for surrounding communities, stimulating regional and national economic growth.

“Our new Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all will ensure that we continue to focus on the most important sustainability issues for our stakeholders. That includes the transition to net zero carbon operations by 2038 and working with industry and Government to reach net zero aviation by 2050.

“I would like to thank colleagues across MAG for their hard work and commitment in the delivery of a successful Strategy and I look forward to what positive developments lie ahead.”

Aviation Minister Keir Mather, said:

 “Alongside our Aviation Ambassadors who promote careers in the sector, projects like the Aerozone raise awareness of routes into aviation, giving young people valuable opportunities that inspire long-term careers.

 “This is an important milestone for accessible, high-quality education in Greater Manchester, and I congratulate Manchester Airports Group on their work to help build a skilled workforce fit for the future and deliver our Plan for Change.”

Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “Manchester Airport is a key part of our growth ambitions for Greater Manchester. It provides highly skilled jobs for residents and the Aerozone does great work in inspiring young people that there is a route to quality jobs in our city region.

“It’s positive to also see the airport continuing its commitment to sustainability, contributing to Greater Manchester’s carbon neutral ambitions.”

Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: "Manchester Airport is a major economic driver for the city and a big employer in its own right. The Aerozone is a great example of how it connects with the community, inspiring our young people to learn about and even go into careers in the aviation industry. 

"It's one of many ways in which the airport supports our communities and businesses. 

"Manchester Airports Group is also demonstrating leadership in reducing its own carbon emissions and encouraging the global drive to reduce the emissions associated with air travel." 

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said:

“East Midlands Airport is an excellent example of an industry-leading employer investing in its future workforce, from encouraging interest in the sector at a young age through the Aerozone, to offering training and work experience which develops skills and leads to meaningful employment, through its Academy and cadets programme.

“These are exactly the types of programmes I want to see more of. Supporting people to develop skills and secure better-paid jobs is a cornerstone of my newly launched East Midlands Growth Plan.

“I look forward to working with East Midlands Airport in the coming months and years to help deliver on this commitment.”

Chair of Stansted Airport College Advisory Board, Robert Halfon said:

"As Chair of Stansted Airport College Advisory Board, I am proud to be part of one of the most unique colleges in the country - the only Aviation specialist College inside an airport - thanks to the foresight and strong backing of MAG.

 “The College is just one example of how MAG is leading the way in creating a sustainable future for the aviation industry, as this new report sets out.

 "Due to the hard work of staff, the College has outstanding outcomes for its students, with well over 90% achieving good outcomes, whether it be additional education, an apprenticeship, or skilled employment.   

"The College is both at the forefront of technology, whether it involves immersive or augmented learning, or AI, but is  also a champion of social mobility. Its offering of everything aviation related, from Aircraft Engineer to Cabin Crew is vital for the Aviation Skills our country needs".

The Group marked a number of additional milestones across the Strategy’s three strategic priorities: Zero Carbon Airports, Opportunity for All and Local Voices between 2020-2025, these included:

·       London Stansted’s Aerozone welcoming its 25,000^th pupil earlier in 2025

·       Permission granted for a 14.3MW solar farm at London Stansted

·       More than £400,000 awarded to schools across the UK as part an EcoGarden competition

·       A Jet Zero curriculum launched at all three MAG Aerozones to educate young people about decarbonisation

·       Youth Forums set up at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands to give young people a voice in planning the aviation sector’s future

·       New Noise Action Plans launched at all three airports

·       Retained a five-star GRESB ESG rating and named an FT European Climate Leader for the fourth time.

To read the report, click here.

Notes to editors:

MAG launched its new Sustainability Strategy: Creating a sustainable future for all, in May this year setting out its two core pillars: Protecting our Environment and Community at our Core.

The new five-year strategy builds on the significant progress the Group has made to create a more sustainable aviation sector and enhance the lives of its local communities.

The strategy sets out clear and ambitious targets including:

·       Transitioning to net zero carbon (scope 1 and 2 market-based emissions) operations by 2038

·       Ensuring 30% of MAG’s electricity will be supplied from renewable sources directly connected to its airports by 2035

·       Supporting more than 70,000 young people in the next five years through its educational programmes and initiatives

·       Investing a minimum of £1.5m in local communities by 2030

September marked another record-breaking month for Manchester Airports Group (MAG), as it served 6.2m passengers across all three of its airports.  

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – also recorded a rolling 12-month total of 65.7m passengers, a 3.2% increase year-on-year.  

Manchester Airport served a record 3.1m passengers across the month, an increase of 1.4%. Its rolling 12-month total stands at 31.8m passengers, an increase of 5.5% compared to 2024. 

London Stansted's rolling 12-month total increased by 2.2% to 29.9m passengers. The airport also saw 2.7m passengers through its terminal in September, a slight decrease of 0.1% year-on-year. 

East Midlands Airport welcomed more than 448,000 passengers in September, a decrease of 8.0% year-on-year. The rolling 12-month total saw 3.9m passengers pass through the airport, a decrease of 6.4% compared to 2024.  

Operational performance remained strong throughout the period with 99% of passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less at East Midlands Airport and London Stansted. The figure at Manchester Airport was 98%. 

Passengers: 

Cargo: 

·      Route will be operated by India’s biggest airline, IndiGo, and combined with existing Mumbai route means Manchester will have daily flights to India

·      The routes will deliver a boost worth hundreds of millions of pounds to the economy

The North is set for a major economic boost thanks to a new direct air route to India's capital.

The service – between Manchester Airport and Delhi – was announced at the start of a trade mission to India led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

It will be operated by India’s biggest airline – IndiGo – and has been tipped to accelerate the benefits of the new UK-India trade deal by helping businesses across the North export to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

The news comes just months after IndiGo picked Manchester for its first ever long-haul route into Europe, launching flights to Mumbai.

It means that, from November, there will be nine direct flights a week between the North and India, with Manchester Airport being the only outside London to have services to both Mumbai and Delhi.

They will all operate from Manchester’s state-of-the-art £1.3bn Terminal 2, which has been delivered through its historic 10-year Transformation Programme, unlocking the capacity of its existing two full-length runways.

Research from economic consultancy Metro Dynamics forecasts the two routes will deliver a major economic boost, including:

•  Increased exports worth more than £33.5m a year
• More than £26m a year of extra tourism income from Indian visitors
• around 500 new jobs – supporting £24.2m of extra GVA to the North
• more than £26m of productivity savings for businesses across the North each year
• significant increases in innovation and research collaboration between the North and India

It will also be of huge benefit to the substantial Indian diaspora living in Manchester Airport's catchment area, who currently have to suffer the cost and inconvenience of connecting flights when travelling home to visit friends and family. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“This new direct route between Manchester and Delhi is a powerful example of our plan for change in action—unlocking new opportunities for businesses, creating hundreds of jobs, and driving growth. I’m proud to see Manchester Airport leading the way in delivering the benefits of our new UK-India trade deal to communities across the North.”

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe has joined the Prime Minister and a delegation of senior business figures from across UK on the four-day mission to India, starting today (Wednesday 8 October).

He said:  

“We are proud to connect the North to the world and today’s announcement means people and businesses across the region will now have direct access to both India’s financial centre and its capital.

“That will drive tens of millions of pounds in economic value every year, supporting the Government’s growth agenda and boosting the benefits of the new UK-India trade deal.

“It is pleasing to see MAG’s £1.3bn investment in Manchester Airport unlocking the potential of our two runways, driving growth and prosperity across the North through routes like these with IndiGo.

“I am honoured to be joining the Prime Minister on this trade mission and look forward to working with Government on plans to maximise the contribution Manchester Airport makes to its economic mission in the years to come.”

Jo Ahmed, co-chair of the Manchester India Partnership, an alliance of public and private sector organisations that has forged closer social and economic ties over the past eight years, said:  

"Having direct flights into India's two most important cities will deliver a significant boost to the region's economy, building on the many trade, investment, academic and cultural connections that already exist. 

"The fact IndiGo chose Manchester in the first place was due recognition of the many years of hard work that have gone into forging close ties between the two locations. With a new UK-India trade deal in place - and connectivity like this - I am looking forward to the next chapter of Manchester-India relations delivering an even stronger set of opportunities for collaboration benefitting both people and place."

Vishakha Yaduvanshi, Consul General of India in Manchester, said:

“The launch of IndiGo’s new direct flight service between Delhi and Manchester marks another milestone in the deepening partnership between India and the North of England, since the establishment of the Consulate General of India and the launch of a direct flight between Manchester and Mumbai.

“I commend Manchester Airport and IndiGo for their tireless efforts to meet the growing demand to extend the connectivity to India’s capital, Delhi. This new edition is timely and immensely significant for businesses, students, tourism and cultural linkages between our two countries.”

Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:

“Lord Jim O’Neill, who developed the intellectual underpinning of the Northern Powerhouse, has made the case consistently for linking cities including Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Liverpool to each other and Manchester Airport. He also coined the terms ‘BRICs’ and the changing global economic order in the two and a half decades since has shown the importance of India and China in particular from that grouping to the future of the North.

“Adding Delhi to the existing direct connection already established to Mumbai is a testament to the strong potential for strengthening economic ties between the North of England and India. Building on foreign direct investment such as Sai Life Sciences at Alderley Park and the significant number of Indian students who choose to study here - one of our greatest pan-Northern export success stories, including institutions such as Manchester and Sheffield - this new direct long-haul link is of particular significance.”

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said:

"This new route to Delhi will supercharge Manchester's connections with India. Our existing route to Mumbai is already hugely beneficial to the city's businesses and people - supporting trade, investment and cultural links with one of the world's biggest economies.

“The addition of Delhi, meaning that there will be daily flights to and from India from Manchester, will take that to the next level."

Delhi is India’s capital and home to its government. It is also part of the famous ‘Golden Triangle’ of Delhi, Agra – home of the Taj Mahal – and Jaipur, which is famed for its pink forts, palaces and temples.

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the financial capital of India and one of the most populous cities in the world. Located on the west coast along the Arabian Sea, Mumbai is the centre of the Hindi film industry and a thriving hub for commerce, fashion, and entertainment.

IndiGo is India’s biggest airline. Last year it served more than 118m passengers across its network of more than 90 destinations in India and 40 international destinations. It has a fleet of more than 400 aircraft.

The new service will operate from Manchester Airport’s brand new, £1.3bn Terminal 2, as well as the existing Mumbai service. The terminal is the centrepiece of the airport’s decade-long transformation programme which is due to be conclude in the coming months.

Terminal 2 has already won the prestigious Prix Versailles for architecture and design, recognising it as one of the most modern and user-friendly airport terminals in Europe. 

·       Incumbent Board members Jon Wragg and Catherine Schefer have retired from their roles

 Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has announced that Steve Fraser and Emma Gilthorpe have joined its Board as Non-Executive Directors.

Steve Fraser is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cadent and has more than 20 years’ experience of managing and transforming infrastructure businesses.

Emma Gilthorpe previously held the role of CEO at Royal Mail. Prior to this, she was a member of the executive team at Heathrow Airport for nearly 15 years - most recently as its COO, navigating the business through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Existing Board members Jon Wragg and Catherine Schefer will both retire from their roles as Non-Executive Directors at the end of September.

MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports alongside digital travel services business, CAVU. The Group is the largest private investor in private infrastructure outside of London and is set to invest £2.5bn in its airports over the next five years.  MAG serves more than 65m passengers a year and supports more than 40,000 jobs across its sites.

 MAG Chair Charlie Cornish said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jon and Catherine for their service to MAG. Both have made a significant contribution during their time on our Board. It is also really pleasing to welcome Steve and Emma, both of whom bring significant experience and expertise to MAG as we embark on an exciting phase of growth and investment.”

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has today announced that Marie Joyce has been appointed as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). 

Marie brings extensive financial leadership experience across complex, operational businesses. She joins MAG from sustainable infrastructure business NTR, where she held the positions of CFO and Chief Operating Officer (COO), leading finance and commercial strategy across large-scale projects. Marie will begin her role in January 2026. 

Since 2020, she has also served as a Non-Executive Director at daa, the operator of Dublin and Cork airports, providing strategic oversight and governance, focused on long-term asset investment. 

MAG is the UK’s largest airports group, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports alongside digital travel services business CAVU. The Group is the largest private investor in transport infrastructure outside of London and is set to invest £2.5bn in its airports over the next five years.  MAG serves more than 65m passengers a year and supports more than 40,000 jobs across its sites.  

Marie takes on her new role at MAG from Jan Bramall, who is leaving the Group after seven years to pursue new opportunities.  

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said:  “We are delighted to welcome Marie to MAG as our new Chief Financial Officer. 

“Her expertise in finance, combined with experience in aviation and major infrastructure, will support our Group’s plans for transformation and growth as we invest more £2.5bn in our airports over the next five years.  

“Marie will play a key role in ensuring that our investments create the greatest value by enhancing the experience of our passengers, driving sustainability initiatives and ensuring that our business continues to make a significant contribution to our regional and national economy. 

“I would like to thank Jan for her hard work and commitment during her time at MAG – playing a critical role in our recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the delivery of our transformation programmes. I wish her every success in her new role.” 

Marie Joyce said:  

“I am pleased and excited to join MAG at such an important time for the Group and for UK aviation. 

“MAG is an ambitious Group whose priorities align closely with my own focus on disciplined growth, excellent passenger experiences and leading high-performing organisations.  

“I look forward to working with the rest of the executive team and every colleague across MAG to drive our future success.”  

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has today published its new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy: Every Journey Matters.

The Strategy sets out the MAG’s commitment to giving a voice to underrepresented talent and to embedding EDI into the culture of the organisation through inclusive leadership. The Group has ambitions to become a leader in inclusive excellence within the UK aviation industry and has identified a range of focus areas to drive forward representation.

MAG is the UK’s largest airports group which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports alongside digital travel services business CAVU. The Group employs more than 7,000 people and supports more than 40,000 jobs across the UK.

Every Journey Matters is built on four strategic pillars. These pillars work to ensure that every voice across MAG feels heard, that inclusion is embedded into how the business operates, that colleagues feel equipped and empowered to make inclusion part of everything they do, and that MAG is setting the pace for EDI in the aviation sector.

The Strategy also outlines the role MAG’s Colleague Communities play as critical business tools to drive inclusion forward. The Communities – which increase representation for underrepresented groups such as LGBTQIA+, UK Ethnic Minorities, people with disabilities, women and carers – offering deep insight into the lived experiences of people across the organisation.

The Group has also committed to number of targets to increase representation across over the coming decade, aiming to create a more diverse leadership population.

MAG Head of EDI Alicia McDonnell said:

“I am proud to welcome MAG’s new EDI Strategy: Every Journey Matters. It has been created with our people at its core, and is focused on ensuring that all colleagues across MAG feel represented and valued regardless of their identity, belief, background, characteristics or role.

“This Strategy creates opportunity for individuality while building a shared culture of inclusion across MAG. It takes a targeted approach which is focused on leveraging difference, removing barriers and enabling everybody to take their own journey.

“Achieving inclusive excellence is important not only to the experience of our colleagues – it is fundamental to the success of our business.

“I look forward to collaborating with colleagues across our business and the wider aviation sector to deliver on our ambitions to create a more inclusive future.”

The Strategy has been launched as part of MAG’s activities to celebrate National Inclusion Week. Yesterday, the Group launched its UK-first EDI forum ‘Aviation for All’, which brings together sector partners as well as skills and employment organisations to share best practice to accelerate EDI. Founding partners of the forum include TUI, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Inclusive Employers, Pure Innovations, and Fantasy Wings.

A new colleague centred initiative called Kind Cafés was also launched. Hosted in the heart of the operations across all three MAG airports, the Kind Cafés aim to bridge the inclusion gap between front-line and office-based colleagues. The sessions were led by MAG’s Colleague Communities who met with operational colleagues to speak about how they could join and get involved in their activities.

To read more about the strategy, click here.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) today launched a new cross-sector forum as part of its industry-leading approach to improving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Aviation for All brings together organisations including TUI, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, Fantasy Wings, Pure Innovations and Inclusive Employers to share best practice on how to drive inclusivity in the sector.

It was launched at a virtual event to coincide with National Inclusion Week, which is focused on enhancing the representation of minorities to make a more diverse and equitable society.

The Forum was the brainchild of Alicia McDonnell, the Head of EDI at MAG – the UK’s largest airports group, which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, alongside digital travel services business, CAVU.

The Rt Hon Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe which neighbours Manchester Airport, made an opening address to attendees, with a video message where he spoke about the importance of diversity and inclusion, citing  aviation’s role as a critical employer across the UK.

Across the event, attendees heard from speakers from within the aviation sector who are working to drive inclusion. A ‘Community Voices’ panel started the day which focused on the importance of championing change together with employee networks. The panel included representatives from MAG, TUI, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

A focus was also placed on the importance of community engagement and inclusive partnerships. MAG’s Community Engagement and Education and Employment teams outlined MAG’s outreach programmes including its youth forums and volunteering programme, alongside the work of its Airport Academies and Aerozones.

Pure Innovations - an organisation which supports people across Greater Manchester with disabilities providing pathways to employment - outlined the supported internships it runs in partnership with MAG, as an example of one of the initiatives taking place across the industry to champion inclusivity.

Closing the event, attendees heard from senior industry leaders including MAG’s Chief Strategy Officer Andrew Macmillan, Director of Customer, Cabin and Inflight Services at TUI, Jill Nye and British Airways’ Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff. They discussed how business leaders across the industry can play their part in driving inclusion in the workplace.

Following the launch of the Forum, MAG will publish its new EDI Strategy: Every Journey Matters later this week. The Strategy sets out MAG’s vision for enhancing EDI across the Group over the next five years, with a commitment to championing underrepresented talent.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said:

“The launch of Aviation for All is a demonstration of MAG’s commitment to leading on inclusion across our sector from the very front. By bringing industry and skills partners together, we can work collaboratively to understand challenges and create opportunities to forge real, and measurable progress right across aviation.

“The UK aviation industry is made up of a rich tapestry of individuals from all backgrounds, each contributing their unique skills and perspectives which make the sector successful. It is important that through forums like Aviation for All, we continue to leverage that diversity and use it to drive us forward.

“I am proud of the new Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy MAG has developed: Every Journey Matters. This new strategy sets out a commitment to achieving inclusive excellence for our organisation. With airports spanning the North, Midlands and South, the scale of our impact means that we play a key role in to creating diverse and vibrant communities surrounding our airports. The success of our business is powered by our people. It is imperative that we live and breathe a culture which celebrates diversity and fosters a safe and inclusive environment where all colleagues feel proud to work for MAG.”

As part of a business wide programme of activity for National Inclusion Week, MAG’s Colleague Communities – which increase representation for underrepresented groups such as LGBTQIA+, UK Ethnic Minorities, people with disabilities, women and carers - hosted ‘Kind Café’ events across operations at all three of its airports. Aimed at bridging the inclusion gap between front-line and office-based colleagues, the sessions saw operational colleagues meet with members of Colleague Communities to find out how they could join and get involved in ongoing activities.

Neil Swanson, Managing Director, TUI said:

“At TUI, we know the strength of our industry comes from the diversity of our colleagues. Aviation For All is a brilliant opportunity to collaborate, share and learn from each other as we continue to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion forward. Working together across our industry is a powerful way to learn, share, and challenge ourselves so we can continue building an environment where every colleague feels they belong and in turn deliver the best experiences for our customers. Events like this are vital in driving meaningful change across the industry, ensuring that aviation is truly accessible and welcoming for everyone”.

Jackson Smith, CEO, Fantasy Wings said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to see the formation of the 'Aviation for All' forum. This is precisely the kind of bold, collaborative initiative our industry needs to move the dial on inclusion.

“For too long, the dream of a career in Aviation has felt out of reach for too many. At Fantasy Wings, we see every day how breaking down those barriers doesn't just change individual lives—it energises our entire sector with fresh perspectives and unparalleled talent.

“We are incredibly proud to be invited to be the Keynote Speaker for this landmark event. We can't wait to share the stories of our young people, whose passion and potential are the living proof of what an inclusive aviation industry can achieve. This is more than an event; it's the foundation for a stronger, more vibrant future for UK aviation, and we're honoured to help build it”

Louise Parrott-Bates, CEO, Pure Innovations, said:

“Pure Innovations has been working with MAG for over 10 years to build an inclusive workforce recognising the abilities and attributes young people with a disability bring to the workplace.

“The Supported Internship supports young neurodivergent people each year with the skills and experience needed to succeed in the workplace. With 100% of last year's cohort securing paid work.

"We are proud to support the launch of Aviation for All, which will provide a new opportunity to showcase the importance of inclusive employment and allow us to collaborate with businesses across the aviation industry."

·       Record figures driven by growth at both Manchester and London Stansted Airports

·       Operational performance remained strong in the peak summer holiday month

The UK’s largest airports group served more than 7 million passengers for the first time in its history last month.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – hit the milestone by growing year-on-year volumes 1.9% during August.

That also took the Group’s rolling 12-month passenger total to 65.7m passengers, an increase of 3.7% on 2024.

MAG’s performance was driven by Manchester and London Stansted both delivering record months in August.

Manchester served 3.5m passengers - up 3.5% year-on-year. It also recorded its busiest ever day on 17 August, when more than 117,000 passengers passed through the Northern gateway. Manchester’s rolling 12-month passenger total stands at 31.8m, up 6.2% on the same period last year.

London Stansted saw 3.1m passengers jet off across the month, an increase of 0.6% on August 2024. The airport’s rolling 12-month passenger figures stands at 29.9m, an increase of 2.4% year-on-year.

Across August, more than 500,000 passengers choose East Midlands Airport for their summer holidays, with its rolling 12-month passenger total at 4m passengers.  Home to the UK’s largest pure freight operation, cargo volume at the airport increased by 5.6% year-on-year, handling more than 34,000 tonnes over the month.

MAG CEO Ken O’Toole said:

“Serving more than 7m passengers in a single month for the first time in our history, underlines the strength of choice and value we offer our passengers through our extensive global route networks.

“It reinforces the vital role MAG - and the wider aviation industry - plays in connecting people and businesses with the world, while driving economic growth in all parts of the UK.

“As the largest investor in transport infrastructure outside London, we will invest more than £2.5bn over the next five years, creating jobs and unlocking more value for the regions we serve. That, in turn, will provide even more choice to passengers up and down the country using our airports."

At the height of the busy summer period, operational performance across the Group was strong. Across the Group, 99% of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less.

Passengers:

Cargo:

The comments come after Manchester Airports Group (MAG) published the latest findings of its UK Trade Barometer in partnership with The Growing Together Alliance and YouGov.

Data from 2,000 UK businesses across Q2 of 2025 showed that despite trade turbulence, UK exporters performed well and were optimistic about prospects in Q3. It also highlighted how exports to the EU, Canada and China are also gaining momentum as businesses seek to diversify their operations.

As the UK Government continues to push forward its Modern Industrial Strategy, Mr O’Toole reaffirmed the vital role of aviation in unlocking international trade and accelerating economic growth through country’s high-growth service sectors.

He said: “For our economy to thrive, we need to play to our strengths and so it is welcome news that the Industrial Strategy backs the highest-potential sectors.

“Delivering that Strategy must also involve supporting the key enablers of growth and it has been pleasing to see the Chancellor back aviation as one of those. But we also need a plan that will deliver growth now - and in the years immediately ahead of us - not just in 20 or so years’ time.”

The Trade Barometer findings also highlighted the stark contrast between the performance of exporters in London and from other regions around the UK. More than half of London businesses – 51% - expect to increase exports in the next quarter, compared to 22% in both the North and the Midlands.

Mr O’Toole highlighted the unique role MAG plays in the UK – with airports that span regions across the country. He called for a need for Government policy to focus on ensuring that all regions of the UK benefit from trading businesses – with research from Centre for Cities showing that towns and cities with more exporting businesses are proved to perform better economically.

He said: “With airports in the North, Midlands and South, MAG will spend £2.5bn on its own infrastructure over the next five years. We are committed to working with Government on how that private investment works alongside policy interventions to boost productivity in all parts of the UK…

“…all the key sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy are abundant across the UK. Just look at the Ox-Cam arc and clusters of AI, cyber, life sciences and materials manufacturing in the North West.

“This highlights a clear opportunity for Government to boost productivity nationwide – and close the gap between London and the regions - by working with business and local leaders to identify the interventions that will help more companies “go global.””

To read the full piece click here.

To read more about MAG’s Q2 Trade Barometer click here.

Trade hasn’t been far away from the news over the last six months. That has largely been down to the theatre of new tariffs being revealed or geopolitical issues that have impacted the movement of goods around the world.

While these events rightly grab headlines in the moment, it is also important to remember why trade matters in the first place.

There are many reasons but I will focus on two.

Firstly, we are an island trading nation. For generations, we have been pioneers of global trade and proud to sell our wares internationally.

In recent times, our economy has been built around exportable services, with sectors like technology, life sciences and financial and professional services tipped to drive most growth.

The Government’s recently-published Modern Industrial Strategy backs these sectors, among others, to turbo-charge productivity and deliver G7-leading growth.

We know these industries rely more than most on access to the world to thrive. The UK is the second-largest exporter of services globally and when researchers at WPI Economics looked at projections for 10 key service industries, they found they are set to grow two percentage points faster than the rest of the economy over the next decade. That is worth £10.66bn.

So, any measure that captures the trade intentions of businesses across the economy can be considered one of the most vital economic indicators for our country.

This week, MAG and the Growing Together Alliance of business groups released the latest findings from our UK Trade Barometer. Through YouGov, it asks 2,000 firms how they have traded globally in the last three months and what their expectations are for the quarter ahead.

The positive news is exporters held up well in Q2. More than half – 54% - said they increased exports to an existing market between March-June. That was down slightly on 63% in Q1, mirroring the cautiously-welcomed GDP figures from a week earlier. They told a story of growth – just slower growth than before.

What also jumped out was that services did perform better than goods exporters. Looking at manufacturers, 44% grew sales in Q2 and exports to America in particular fell backwards amid uncertainty over tariffs. By contrast, IT and Telecoms – as an example of a service sector – had a stronger period, with 77% growing sales.

For our economy to thrive, we need to play to our strengths and so it is welcome news that the Industrial Strategy backs the highest-potential sectors.

Delivering that Strategy must also involve supporting the key enablers of growth and it has been pleasing to see the Chancellor back aviation as one of those. But we also need a plan that will deliver growth now - and in the years immediately ahead of us - not just in 20 or so years’ time.

With airports in the North, Midlands and South, MAG will spend £2.5bn on its own infrastructure over the next five years. We are committed to working with Government on how that private investment works alongside policy interventions to boost productivity in all parts of the UK.

That leads me to my second reason trade matters. We know this Government rightly wants to build an economy in which all regions flourish, not just a few.

There is clear evidence – including from the Centre for Cities – that towns and cities with more exporting businesses perform better economically. That explains why they tend to have higher living standards.

Another stark finding from the latest Trade Barometer release is the difference between exporters based in London and those elsewhere.

More than half of London businesses – 51% - expect to increase exports in the next quarter. That compares to 22% in both the North and the Midlands. A third of firms in the capital – 37% - anticipate breaking into a new market in Q3 vs 14% in the Midlands and 16% in the North.

The good news all the key sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy are abundant across the UK. Just look at the Ox-Cam arc and clusters of AI, cyber, life sciences and materials manufacturing in the North West.

This highlights a clear opportunity for Government to boost productivity nationwide – and close the gap between London and the regions - by working with business and local leaders to identify the interventions that will help more companies “go global.”

There are positive noises, with speculation a high-speed Northern Powerhouse Rail network – via Manchester Airport - will finally get the go ahead later this year as just one example.

Delivering G7-leading growth is a long-term objective but the next few months will tell us how likely we are to make big strides towards achieving it in the near future.

Whether it's applying suntan lotion, lounging on a sun bed in a new position, or simply taking the time to do a self-examination, being on holiday can bring attention to potential health issues.

This summer, the BooBee Campaign in Greater Manchester has partnered with Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the UK’s largest airport group, to promote breast health awareness for women heading off on holiday.

The Check In & Check Yourself initiative, led by BooBee co-founder Margo Cornish MBE, aims to remind women about the importance of regular self-checks, especially during holiday season when they have more time to focus on themselves.

The campaign features the stories of four women who discovered breast changes that were later found to be cancer while on holiday. Posters will be in place in the female toilets across Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports over the summer holiday period, along with pop-up banners and digital displays in selected terminals. The posters remind women to check their breasts and see a doctor if they notice anything unusual.

Margo said: “Recent statistics tell us that breast cancer affects around one in seven women at some point in their lives, making early detection crucial. By encouraging women to be proactive about their breast health, we can improve prognosis and potentially save lives.”

Among the four women to feature in the campaign is 61-year-old Kath Pryer from Prestbury in Cheshire. Kath was soaking up some winter sunshine in the Caribbean in January 2023, when she noticed some soreness and discomfort in her right breast while lying on her front.

She explained: “I don’t lie on my front very often, so initially I didn’t think anything of it, but a few days later I could feel it again. After the third time, I started to get more concerned, to the point where I was lying awake in bed one night – on my back this time – and that’s when I felt a lump.

“When I arrived back in the UK I went for a scan and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Straight away I started a course of IV chemotherapy, followed by a lumpectomy and five sessions of radiotherapy. Later that same year, I got the all-clear.”

Kath is clear that it was her change of environment in being on holiday that led to her realising something was wrong. She added: “I don’t think I would have found it otherwise. It’s often said that breast cancer is painless, but that was not my experience, and it was the discomfort while lying on my front that led me to discover it.

“What I’d say to women travelling on their holidays this summer is – check thoroughly, check regularly and if you do find something you’re not happy with, don’t put it off, see somebody.”

Also taking part is 43-year-old Laura Upton, from Bolton. Much like Kath, Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing a lump while she was on holiday, in 2017.

She said: “I went to the doctor as soon as I arrived home, was sent for tests and my diagnosis followed around two weeks later. Breast cancer runs in my family but nevertheless, it was a bit of a shock. I had chemotherapy and surgery later that year and I’ve been in remission since.

“I would strongly encourage women travelling on their holidays this summer to Check In & Check Yourself. Catching it early is so important and could save your life.”

The BooBee Campaign raises much-needed funds for Manchester-headquartered charity, Prevent Breast Cancer.

Nikki Barraclough, Chief Executive of Prevent Breast Cancer, said: “At Prevent Breast Cancer, we’re dedicated to creating a future free from breast cancer through early detection, education, and research. Campaigns like ‘Check In & Check Yourself’ are so important - they help women pause, reflect, and take simple steps that could ultimately save their lives. Holidays offer a rare moment to slow down and reconnect with ourselves, and we want to use that moment to empower women to be breast aware - because early diagnosis and prevention starts with knowledge.”

Nicola Foster, a Reward and Wellbeing Manager for MAG who has led on coordinating the campaign across its airports, said: “We have been pleased to support the important work of the BooBee Campaign over many years now and this is a fantastic continuation of that.

“We know when people travel on holiday, their minds shift to things they might overlook during daily life. That is why we are pleased to find creative ways to remind women of the importance of being breast aware when they travel through our airports.”

For more about the campaign, visit www.boobee.co.uk/checkinandcheckyourself.

British exporters weathered the global trade storm well in Q2, despite sales softening amid a climate of geopolitical tensions.

Latest findings from The UK Trade Barometer show 54% of exporters increased sales to existing markets between April and July. That was down from 63% in Q1.

The Barometer – from the UK’s largest airports group MAG and The Growing Together Alliance of business groups – surveys more than 2,000 businesses about their export performance over the past three months and their expectations for the quarter ahead.

It shows 35% broke into a new market in Q2, compared with 47% in Q1. Looking forward, one in five (20%) expect to enter a new market in the next three months, broadly flat against Q1 (21%).

The other key findings from the pulse-check, conducted by YouGov, were:

Calming of transatlantic tensions bodes well

·       One in four firms already trading in the US (25%) said they had increased sales there in the last three months

·       45% expect to increase exports to America in the next quarter, compared to 41% in Q1 – the joint biggest increase

·       But there were huge variances by sector. America dropped dramatically in popularity with manufacturers, while IT and Telecoms sold strongly across the pond

Talking our language

·       Canada (Q2: 13% vs Q1: 10%) has risen above the United States (Q2: 9% vs Q1: 13%) as the most cited destination for those expecting to grow their global footprint in Q3

·       Australia has also risen up the new market ranks (Q2: 9% vs Q1: 6%), indicating the popularity of English-speaking countries among firms looking to diversify order books

Exporters had Euro-vision in second quarter

·       Five EU countries feature in the top 10 markets exporters grew sales to in Q2 (Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium), compared with just three in Q1 (Germany, France, Spain).

·       Five also feature in the list of markets firms expect to enter for the first time next quarter (France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain) vs four in Q1 (Germany, France, Belgium Denmark)

Far East fillip

·       There was a strong rise in businesses saying they expect to grow sales to China in the next three months (Q2: 14% vs Q1: 10%)

·       The number of businesses saying they had grown sales to China as an existing market also grew (Q2: 8% vs Q1: 7%)

·       The number of businesses entering China for the first time also rose (Q2: 6% vs Q1: 4%)

Mind the gap

·       63% of London businesses said they currently export and have increased sales in Q2. That compares with 51% in the North, 51% in the Midlands and 49% in the East of England.

·       While 51% of businesses polled in the capital expect to increase sales to an existing market in Q3, less than a quarter do in the North (24%) and Midlands (23%)

If we can make here, we can take it….anywhere

·       Just 44% of manufacturers increased sales to existing markets vs 55% in Q1

·       The US remained top existing market but with only 16% of manufacturers vs 29% in Q1

·       China rose to be the second biggest existing market (Q2: 13% vs Q1: 8%), followed by Australia, Germany and France

·       The US plummeted down the table of new markets entered by manufacturers, going from top spot (20%) in Q1 to fifth (3%) in Q2

·       China was the most popular new market (8%), despite not making the top five in Q1

Tariff-free trading serves us well

·       More than three-quarters (77%) of IT and Telecoms first grew sales to existing markets and 62% entered a new market

·       America retained top spot on both measures: 44% grew sales to the US as an existing market (vs Q1: 45%) and 34% entered America for the first time (vs Q1: 36%)

MAG is the UK’s largest group of airports, owning Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports. Around three-quarters of UK businesses are based within two hours of one of its airports.

CEO Ken O’Toole said: "Last week's GDP growth figures were met with cautious optimism and a commitment from government to drive productivity and broader economic performance ahead of the Autumn Budget. This global trade data - covering the same period - gives us a valuable indication of how likely we are to see that play out.

"That's because we know businesses that export are more innovative, competitive and productive. Towns and cities with more businesses trading globally have higher living standards. We also know that the sectors Government is prioritising through its Modern Industrial Strategy are inherently global - reflecting our status as an island trading nation with an economy built on exportable services.

"What this data tells us is that British exporters are navigating global trade turbulence well. More than half grew sales in Q2 and their order books reflect a healthy variety of markets.

"It also highlights a clear opportunity for Government to boost productivity nationwide – and close the gap between London and the regions - by working with business and local leaders to identify the interventions that will help more companies go global."

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

Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “The importance of the EU as a market cannot be overstated – it remains the most significant market overall when taken as a trading bloc, underlining why the Prime Minister’s efforts to improve that relationship have been so important. 

“Despite the challenges of recent months, the government’s success in securing better terms with the US is already delivering results. Of the businesses that increased export sales over the quarter, a quarter saw growth in the USA – rising to 44% for firms in the North West. 

“Across the regions, trade can and will play a critical role in raising productivity by increasing both the number of businesses that export and the scale of exports among those already active in global markets.”

John Dickie, Chief Executive of BusinessLDN, said: “Amid a volatile geopolitical environment, it’s vital that the Government helps firms in the capital and beyond navigate a challenging outlook by removing roadblocks to trade and investment.

“The recent trade deal with India and the agreement to strengthen cooperation with the European Union are steps in the right direction. As an island trading nation, it’s also important that policymakers back projects to increase aviation and rail capacity sustainably to boost the international links that are the foundation of cross-border business relationships.”

James Monk, Director of Commercial Services at Business West: “The latest UK Trade Barometer data highlights the resilience and adaptability of British exporters, and reflects the activity of our traders in the South West, who continue to take advantage of opportunities in both established and emerging markets.

 “With Canada and China rising as key export markets, and the EU maintaining its importance post-Brexit, South West businesses are well-positioned to expand their global footprint and profitability through leveraging Free Trade Agreements.

 “At Business West, we’re committed to supporting our exporters in navigating these opportunities, ensuring they remain competitive and compliant in an ever-evolving trade landscape."

A strong start to the summer holidays drove MAG to a record passenger performance in July.

The group - which operates Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands Airports - saw 6.7m passengers pass through its terminals, an increase of 1.7% year-on-year.

MAG also celebrated a rolling 12-month total of 65.6m passengers, up 4.2% year-on-year.

Manchester Airport saw an increase of 3.1% across the month of July, serving 3.3m passengers during July. The month saw 60,000 departing passengers on Friday 25^th July, a first for the airport.

Across the rolling 12-month period, 31.6m passengers have used the Northern hub.

London Stansted also saw an increase of 0.9% in July, with a record-breaking 2.9m passengers flying though. Across the rolling 12-month period, 29.9m passengers chose the London airport, an increase of 2.9% year-on-year.

East Midlands Airport served more than 509,000 passengers in July. Cementing its position as the UK’s largest pure freight hub, the airport saw a 19.1% increase in cargo year-on-year, with more than 35,000 tonnes handled in July.

Operational performance remained strong as passengers set off for the all-important summer getaway. Manchester and East Midlands Airport saw 99% of passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less. While London Stansted saw 98%.

Passengers:

Cargo:

Aviation Minister Mike Kane has announced 17 projects across the country will share £63m to accelerate SAF production, which will support up to 1,400 jobs. 

The investment, which will support the creation of a domestic SAF industry in the UK, is particularly good news for the North West.  As part of today’s announcement, sustainable aviation fuel project developers Essar and NorthPointe Energy received a total of £4.5m of funding. This will enable the development of SAF production at the Stanlow site, which already has an existing direct pipeline supplying aviation fuel to Manchester Airport. 

MAG – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – has a target to make its own operations net zero by 2038 and is working collaboratively with its airlines to facilitate the use of SAF.  In its Sustainability Strategy ‘Creating a sustainable future for all’, published in May 2025, MAG also set a target to reduce emissions intensity  of departing aircraft by 27% by 2035. 

Together with the UK’s SAF mandate and Revenue Certainty Mechanism, today’s funding announcement helps to deliver the UK aviation industry’s plan to achieve net zero carbon by 2050, as well as creating thousands of new green jobs across the country,  

MAG Chief Sustainability Officer, Neil Robinson said:  

“MAG welcomes the Government’s funding announcement today which will support the widespread production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) in the UK and help the aviation industry reach its target of net zero by 2050.  

“I am pleased to see £4.5m of investment awarded to Essar and NorthPointe Energy, that will see airlines using Manchester Airport have direct access to SAF via the existing pipeline to the Stanlow production site.  

“This funding, together with the UK SAF Mandate and Parliament’s support of a Revenue Certainty Mechanism, play an important role in the creation of a domestic SAF industry which will support the creation of thousands of new green jobs and secure a future of sustainable flying.” 

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) welcomed 6.3m passengers through its airports across June, a 0.2% increase on the same month in 2024.  

MAG – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports – also saw its rolling 12-month total increase by 4.6% to 65.5m passengers.  

Manchester Airport served a record 3m passengers in June, up 1.3% on the same month last year. The Northern gateway’s rolling 12-month passenger total stands at 31.5m, an increase of 7.1% year on year.  

At London Stansted, 2.8m passengers picked from the airport’s extensive European network across the month, down 0.7% compared to June 2024. However, the rolling 12-month passenger total increased by 3.2% year-on-year, currently at 29.9m.  

More than 492,000 passengers travelled through East Midlands in June, with a rolling 12-month total of 4m passengers. Also home to the UK’s largest pure freight operation, the airport saw its cargo volumes increase by a 24.7% year-on year, carrying more than 32,000 tonnes across the month. 

Operational performance continued to be strong, where 100% of passengers at London Stansted passed through security in 15 minutes or less. The figure for both Manchester Airport and East Midlands was 99%.  

Figures for June come after MAG published its annual results for 2024/25, where the Group served a record 65m passengers across the reporting year.  It posted revenues of £1.3bn and £570m EBITDA, alongside an operating profit of £263m. The strong performance was driven by the growth of the Group’s route networks, and the continued success of its global travel services business CAVU. Over the next five years, MAG will invest with more than £2.5bn across all three of its airports. The full news release can be read here.  

Passengers: 

Cargo: 

MAG is poised to embark on a fresh phase of significant infrastructure investment, thanks to a record year that also saw it grow its international footprint.

The Group – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, as well as travel services business CAVU – today released its full-year results for the 12 months to 31 March.

Between 1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025, the Group posted revenues of £1.3bn, up 8.4% on FY24, and an adjusted EBITDA of £570.4m, up 12.5% year-on-year. Operating profit stood at £263.2m after accounting for one-offs, up 9.8% on FY24.

The strong performance was driven by growth at all its airports, with the Group serving a combined total of 65m passengers for the first time in its history.

That was delivered through a combination of new routes and extra frequencies from its existing major airlines – such as easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2.com and TUI – and by welcoming new carriers to its airports. Today, India’s biggest airline IndiGo will begin a new service from Manchester to Mumbai – its first in Europe.

CAVU, a business founded by MAG with the aim of improving travel experiences, also had a strong year. The business, which sells travel products through a digital marketplace, as well as operating airport lounges, grew revenues nearly 14% year-on-year. It now has a presence at 308 airports in 48 countries globally.

MAG continued to invest heavily during the period and will complete its 10-year Manchester Airport Transformation Programme later this year. Looking ahead, it is due to spend a further £2.5bn over the next five years at all three airports.

That includes a £1.1bn investment in London Stansted, which was announced during the Government’s International Investment Summit in October.

MAG’s investment programmes will drive growth and prosperity in the regions it serves, by creating jobs and stimulating international trade in high-value sectors.

MAG CEO, Ken O’Toole said:

“This year’s record performance is a testament to the strength of our business and the dedication of our people. With more passengers choosing our airports than ever before, MAG continues to play a vital role in connecting the UK to the world.

“Our airports are engines of growth for the regions they serve. Through continued investment, we’re creating jobs, supporting local economies, and enabling trade and tourism across the North, South and Midlands.

“As the UK’s largest private investor in transport infrastructure outside London, we’re unlocking the full potential of our runways through ambitious capital programmes. These investments will help deliver the Government’s Industrial Strategy and ensure prosperity is shared across the country.

“We’re also proud of the global success of CAVU, which has grown from a start-up into a major international business in just a few years.

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on sustainable growth. Our new five-year Sustainability Strategy builds on two decades of progress and reinforces our commitment to reducing emissions, creating opportunities, and supporting the communities we serve.

“I want to thank all our colleagues across MAG. Their hard work and commitment have made these results possible and will continue to drive our success in the years to come.”

MAG’s divisions reached a number of significant milestones across the reporting period. With record passenger numbers, all three of MAG’s airports also delivered a strong customer experience throughout the year, with 98.9% of passengers passing through security in 15 minutes or less

Manchester Airport

• In September 2024, Manchester Airport served 30m passengers over a 12-month period for the first time its history, placing its alongside other major international airports such as La Guardia in New York and Melbourne Airport in Australia. The UK’s global gateway in the North ended the period having served more than 31.1m passengers, up 8.4% on 2023-24.
• Manchester Airport welcomed a number of new carriers across the year. Its long-haul connectivity was strengthened as Juneyao Airlines started its three times weekly service to Shanghai – creating the first ever direct connection to the Chinese city from outside of London. The publication of today’s results also coincides with the inaugural flight of IndiGo’s Manchester to Mumbai service, signalling India’s largest carrier’s first route in Europe.
• New carrier Royal Air Maroc also introduced a route to Casablanca to the Northern hub this year, as well as FLYONE, which introduced a twice weekly service to Moldovan capital Chisinau.
• Manchester Airport is now nearing completion of its £1.3bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), which began in 2015. The scheme has extended and modernised Terminal 2 as well as improving the efficiency of the airport’s airfield and taxiways.
• New retailers were also announced, including JD Wetherspoon, Chanel and Lego, which will feature in the refurbished legacy Terminal 2 building when it opens to passengers during the summer 2025 season. When complete, the airport’s transformation will increase contributions to the Northern economy by around 80% to £6.3bn by 2040.

London Stansted Airport

• London Stansted Airport also recorded significant growth across the year, serving a record 29.1m passengers, up 4.8% year-on-year. In October, the airport recorded its busiest day ever, with more than 107,000 passengers passing through its terminal in a 24-hour period.
• Serving more European destinations than any other UK airport, London Stansted’s unrivalled offering to passengers continued to expand this year. Ryanair added new routes to Dubrovnik, Sarajevo and Linz, while Jet2.com announced new services to Agadir, Marrakesh and Tivat. Following British Airway’s successful return to the London airport over the summer period, the carrier added a new route to Split.
•  New carriers at the airport included Dutch airline Transavia with a route to Rotterdam, and Royal Air Maroc’s new service to Casablanca. Air Algerie also announced a direct service to Algiers.
• The airport’s double daily service to Dubai continued to prove extremely popular with passengers, connecting them to a host of global destinations from the middle eastern hub. The airline’s offering at London Stansted was enhanced this year, as the new Emirates lounge opened in September for business and first-class passengers. Just this week, Turkish Airlines announced a new double-daily service to Istanbul, adding another long haul route with strong onward connectivity options to its departure boards.
• This reporting period signalled the beginning of large-scale investment plans at London Stansted. Details of a five-year £1.1bn investment programme were revealed by the Prime Minister at the Government’s International Investment Summit in October.
• The centrepiece of the plans is a £700m extension to the existing terminal building, featuring new retail offerings and improved passenger facilities. It is estimated this investment will create up to 5,000 new onsite jobs and double the airport’s economic contribution to £2bn annually.
• That extension will enable it to grow to its existing passenger limit of 43m passengers per annum (mppa).
• In December, London Stansted published its new Sustainable Development Plan (SDP), setting out how it plans to grow sustainably over the next 20 years. This included plans to increase its passenger cap to 51mppa, making best use of its existing spare runway capacity, without adding any additional flights than are currently permitted.
• Last month, the airport formally submitted its planning application to Uttlesford District Council with the proposal.

East Midlands Airport

• East Midlands Airport’s performance was in line with last year, once again serving 4.0m passengers, and as the home of the UK’s largest pure freight operation, handled more than 367,000 tonnes of cargo. It continued to offer its passengers a range of popular European destinations this year, with a number of new additions. TUI announced a new route to Naples over the summer season, alongside services to Burgas and Boa Vista. Jet2.com also commenced new service to Symi.
• Eastern Airways switched its operations from Paris Orly to the more central Paris Charles De Gaulle, offering passengers a more direct route to the French capital, which also offers onward connections to destinations worldwide.
• East Midlands Airport carries the largest amount of express freight that goes in and out of the UK, and this year its network of cargo routes also expanded. Chinese carrier One Air commenced new services to China and Hong Kong, and in May 2025, new cargo Yun Express and Ethiopian Cargo will be both announced services to China, while Atlas Air commenced flights to both the US and China.
• In January, the Chancellor announced a new partnership between East Midlands Airport and Prologis as part of a landmark speech on economic growth.  The new partnership will advance the airport’s Freeport plans, and subject to planning permission, will see the construction of a new logistics and advanced manufacturing park next to the airport.
• This is projected to unlock £1bn of investment stimulating economic growth and employment in the region. Last month, East Midlands also announced plans to bring forward four sites next to its runway for development. The CargoMAX plans could generate up to a further 22,000 jobs when complete.
• The airport also continued to deliver its £120m investment programme at East Midlands Airport, providing improvements across the site over the next five years.

CAVU

•  CAVU, MAG’s global travel services business also saw its international presence grow across the year, with revenues for the division up 13.9% on FY24.

• CAVU has a range of digital and physical products to enhance the airport passenger journey. It now has a presence in more than 308 airports across 48 countries and operates airport lounges across the UK, US and Australia – including at all three of MAG’s airports and Bristol Airport.
• In this reporting period, CAVU announced its acquisition of Parkos, a leading European parking comparison site. The site, which serves more than four million customers worldwide, adds more than 1,000 new parking providers across 15 countries to CAVU’s online marketplace
• CAVU also grew its lounge network this year, both in the UK and overseas. New airport lounges opened at Northwest Arkansas, Portland and Kansas City airports in the US and Cairns and Brisbane airports in Australia, meaning it now operates 28 lounges globally.

Working together for a brighter future

As the Group continued to work towards its target of net zero carbon operations by 2038, its commitment to sustainability was once again independently recognised. In 2025, MAG was names a Financial Times European Climate Leader for the fifth time, as well as retaining its five-star GRESB rating. It also received a ‘gold standard’ award by EcoVadis, placing MAG in the top 5% of rated businesses.  

Across the reporting period, MAG welcomed updates from UK Government about the use and domestic production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), including that the UK’s SAF Mandate, and the creation of a Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM) for domestic SAF. The creation of an RCM, which has now been passed into law, will assist the UK in realising the potential of a domestic SAF industry, which will ensure that the cost of flying remains accessible for passengers, while creating tens of thousands of green jobs in the UK.

In May, MAG launched its new five-year Sustainability Strategy ‘Creating a sustainable future for all’. The new Strategy builds on the more than two decades progress and focus that has placed sustainability at the core of how MAG operates. The Strategy has two main focus areas: Protecting our Environment and Community at our Core, with a number of targets in place, including reducing scope 1&2 market-based emissions by 48%, supporting 70,000 young people through education programmes, and donating £1.5m to local communities, all by 2030. You can read the full Strategy here.

Click here to read the full MAG annual report.

With the busy bank holiday period, May marked another record-breaking month for Manchester Airports Group. The group – which operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands – saw 6.1m passengers choosing its airports, an increase of 2.9% on last year.  

The rolling 12-month passenger total for the Group was 65.5m, up 5.3% year-on-year. 

Manchester Airport saw more than 2.9m passengers travelling through its terminals, which was a 5% increase on the same month last year and the 20^th consecutive record-breaking month for passenger numbers. The Northern gateway’s rolling 12-month passenger total was 31.5m, up 7.7%.  

At London Stansted, a record 2.7m passengers took advantage of the airport’s leading European network for their half-term getaway, up 0.8% year- on- year. The rolling 12-month passenger total was 29.9m, up 4% on 2024.  

East Midlands Airport served 447,000 passengers in May, up 2.7% on the same month last year with more passengers choosing the airport for an effortless half-term break. The rolling 12-month total stands at 4m passengers, a decrease of 2.8% year-on-year.  

Operational performance across the Group remained strong, with 99% of passengers passing  through security in 15 minutes or less.  

Cargo volumes across the Group increased in May. East Midlands reported the most significant growth with an increase of 9.7%, carrying more than 34,000 tonnes of cargo for the month. This increase came as the UK’s largest pure freight operation welcomed two new cargo operators, Atlas Air and Yun Express, both of which are operating services direct to China.  

Traffic figures for May came as MAG published its new five-year Sustainability Strategy; Creating a sustainable future for all. The strategy sets out clear and ambitious targets focused on decarbonisation, nature conservation and community engagement. Examples of these targets include transitioning to net zero carbon operations by 2038 and investing a minimum of £1.5m in local communities by 2030. To read the full strategy, please click here.  

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