Manchester Airports Group (MAG) airports served 2.7 million passengers in October, which represented 51% of pre-pandemic traffic compared to the same month in 2019.
The group – which comprises Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports – said it has now seen six months of “sustained increases” in passenger numbers.
Manchester had 1.2 million, Stansted saw 1.3 million and East Midlands welcomed more than 213,000 passengers.
Back in May 2021, the whole group saw just 260,000 passengers.
“By contrast, October 2021 is the first month since February 2020 in which both Manchester and London Stansted airports have each served more than one million passengers,” it said.
October’s figures were boosted by the school half-term holidays and pent-up demand for international travel after more than a year of Covid-related disruption.
MAG’s airports served one million passengers during half-term, making it the busiest period since the pandemic began.
The number of passengers in October was 22% higher than in September following a further easing of restrictions on international travel on October 4.
The group expects the growth to continue in the lead-up to the festive season.
Manchester airport’s Virgin Atlantic services to New York and Orlando restarted on November 9 after the US relaxed its entry rules, and the Singapore Airlines service to Houston will return in early December.
Aer Lingus will launch new services to New York, Orlando and Boston later this month, having established a new base at Manchester which is already operating flights to Barbados.
Meanwhile, MAG said that Stansted’s wide range of direct European connections has made its recovery the strongest among major UK airports.
Traffic returned to 43% of pre-pandemic levels in September, compared to 38% at Heathrow, and 24% at Gatwick, according to Civil Aviation Authority data.
East Midlands airport has also had its busiest period since passenger operations resumed.
Charlie Cornish, MAG chief executive, said: “These figures demonstrate clearly how the demand for international travel is ready and waiting for when restrictions are eased.
“It is hugely positive to have seen our traffic levels recover month-on-month, and the removal of costly barriers and uncertainty is giving consumers renewed confidence to get back to travel.
“We need to see this positive trend continue following the reopening of transatlantic services to the US in early November and as we continue to rebuild Manchester Airport’s network of direct long-haul connections.
“To ensure we continue on this path to a full recovery, we are calling on the government to set out a clear ambition and plan for removing remaining restrictions on travelling abroad at the earliest opportunity.”