| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 02/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 45 |
| Copyright: Other |
As low-cost carriers continue to expand, UKairports are reporting big increases in passenger numbers.
Moving up: Bristol Airport is hoping for a 50% increase in passenger numbers following Go’s decision to use the airport as its second UKhub
IT WILL be several weeks before the Civil Aviation Authority reveals how many passengers flew from the UK last year, but airports claim to have seen big increases.
Much of the growth has been driven by the expansion of services offered by low-cost carriers.
Stansted attributes a significant portion of the 25% rise in its passenger numbers – which reached 12.1 million last year – to the success of the budget flights operated by Go and Ryanair.
An airport spokesman said passenger growth was expected to continue, especially as Ryanair alone will be operating seven new routes from Stansted this summer.
Now, having firmly established themselves in the southeast of England, Go, EasyJet and Ryanair are expanding their services from regional airports.
Ryanair and EasyJet already operate services from Liverpool, and the airport believes its future has recently been secured by the fact that EasyJet has decided to turn Merseyside into its second UK base.
The carrier has signed a 20-year agreement with the airport, pledging to base at least seven aircraft there by 2003, by which time it is expecting to be bringing in at least 2.5 million passengers a year. It already operates 20 flights a day from Liverpool to nine European destinations, plus Luton and Belfast.
Liverpool Airport business services manager Robin Tudor said: “We have seen phenomenal growth since Ryanair and EasyJet started flying fromLiverpool. Our annual passenger numbers reached two million for the first time in February and this new deal has set us up for the next 10-15 years.”
Bristol Airport has been in a similarlybuoyant mood since Go announced its decision to turn the southwest airport into its second UK base.
The airport believes Go’s new low-cost services will lead to 50% passenger growth.
The airline will base two aircraft at the airport initially, adding a third in September and a fourth next year.
Bristol Airport managing director John Parkin said: “This is the biggest deal in the airport’s history.”
One of the biggest developments this year has been the opening of Manchester Airport’s second runway, which has become operational in time for the launch of two transatlantic services by bmi British Midland. Manchester Airport director of business development Bill Savage said: “These flights will connect with United Airlines at both Chicago and Washington, which means we are now able to offer services to many US destinations.”
Belfast International expects its passenger numbers to increase by 500,000 to 3.6 million over the next year, largely due to the launch of a service to Stansted by Go and a new EasyJet flight to Amsterdam, plus an increase in EasyJet’s services to Luton and Liverpool.
Similarly Prestwick Airport near Glasgow, which has seen its passenger numbers increase to one million a year since Ryanair began operating services in 1994, is expecting further growth following the airline’s decision to launch a daily service to its new Brussels’ hub on April 26.
Stansted has embarked on a £200 million terminal expansion, which will increase its capacity to 15 millionby December; Liverpool is spending £32.5 million on enlarging its terminal for next year.
Glasgow Airport is building a £13 million multi-storey car park with capacity for an extra 1,350 cars; and Edinburgh has opened a new arrivals hall, which was part of a £12 million development.