Liverpool Airport expects record summer as passenger numbers ‘hold up well’

Passengers using Liverpool John Lennon Airport ahead of the summer peak have continued to “hold up well” despite Middle East conflict concerns.

Latest figures show throughput rising by 2% year on year to almost 2.7 million travellers in the first half of 2026.

The Merseyside airport now expects a 7% uplift to a record of nearly 930,000 between the start of the school holidays and the end of August.

An airport statement said: “Despite the UK’s recent good weather and continued concerns across the aviation industry over the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, Liverpool has continued to see passenger numbers hold up well, with almost 2.7 million passengers having used the airport in the first six months of the year.

“Thousands of passengers from across the northwest and North Wales are expected to jet off abroad from Liverpool for their main holiday over the coming weeks.”

Flights to Alicante, Palma, Malaga, Faro, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Barcelona and Dalaman are among the busiest while high passenger volumes are also expected to destinations closer to home including Dublin and Belfast.

Travellers are being reminded to allow plenty of time to pass through the airport during peak periods and arrive two to three hours before their scheduled departure time and to also think carefully about items placed in hold luggage.

The Civil Aviation Authority is reminding passengers to “pack right for a safe flight” as the number of safety incidents caused by lithium batteries on flights is on the rise. Items such as power banks must not be placed in checked-in luggage stowed in the aircraft hold and be taken on board as hand luggage.

The installation of latest generation security equipment last year means that passengers departing from Liverpool can keep liquids and large electronic items such as laptops and tablet devices in their hand luggage with no need for a clear plastic bag to keep liquids in. However, all liquids are still limited to 100ml.

An airport spokesperson said: “Whilst it has been a particularly challenging time for the aviation industry in recent months, passenger numbers here have remained higher than last year and we expect a very busy summer holiday period once again with the potential to break last year’s record numbers of passengers.

“We look forward to welcoming thousands of the region’s holidaymakers from across the northwest and North Wales over the coming weeks.”