MAG airports handle record 66m passengers in 2025

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) saw a rise in passengers handled in 2025 to a record 66 million.

A 2.2% increase was recorded across the group’s three airports of Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands and compared with 84 million passengers achieved by Heathrow.

December saw the year end for MAG airports with a 3.9% year on year increase to 4.8 million.

Manchester Airport saw 2.4 million passengers use its terminals last month, a 5.9% increase over December 2024.  

The airport’s rolling 12-month total was 32.1 million passengers, an increase of 4.2%.  

Stansted achieved a record year, serving 30 million passengers for the first time, up 0.9%.

December saw 2.3 million passengers travel via the London airport, a 1.6% increase.  

Stansted secured planning approval last month to increase its passenger limit from 43 million to 51 million a year. 

Annual passenger numbers at East Midlands Airport fell by 4.3% year on year to 4 million, however December levels rose by 6.3% to 166,000.

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

MAG chief executive Ken O’Toole, MAG CEO said: “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.”  

He added: “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.”