The results are still coming in, but December 2023 looks set to be a record-breaking month for passenger numbers at UK airports.
As reported earlier today Heathrow welcomed 6.69 million passengers last month, its highest ever December monthly traffic, as the airport reached 79 million passengers for the year.
Manchester Airports Group (MAG) – which operates the UK’s third and fourth largest airports in Manchester and London Stansted – has also reported its annual traffic figures, with the group serving 60 million passengers in 2023.
Both Manchester and Stansted welcomed more than two million passengers in December, posting record traffic numbers for the month.
Indeed for Manchester it was the first time the airport had hit the two-million milestone for December, with a total of 2,022,905 customers travelling through the northern hub last month.
Gatwick has yet to report its annual traffic figures for 2023, while London Luton – the UK’s fifth largest airport – welcomed 1.2 million passengers last month, slightly down on the 1.3 million in December 2019.
Commenting on the news Gareth Powell, London Stansted’s managing director, said:
“To end the year with another strong performance in December once again demonstrates the strength and appeal of Stansted’s extensive route network, plus the great value and operational efficiency we offer all our passengers.
“To welcome more passengers than in any previous December, and successfully provide a strong operational performance during such a busy period was down to the commitment, hard work and close collaboration of all colleagues and business partners across the airport.
“Stansted’s strong, sustained and positive recovery during 2023 was an excellent achievement for everyone connected with the airport, but we have now entered a period of passenger growth and an even busier 12 months ahead.
“Our full focus is on maintaining and building on this success by adding even more choice to our route network and continuing to deliver our significant investment programme to transform every stage of the airport experience as we look forward to what we expect to be an even busier year ahead of us.”
Earlier this month the International Air Transport Association (IATA) published its latest data for global air traffic, showing figures reaching 99.1 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in November.
Global air traffic reached 99 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in November
