UK regional airports see strong passenger growth outside London

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UK regional airports see strong passenger growth outside London

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Manchester Airport | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Feb 7, 2025

The United Kingdom's aviation sector is dominated by London's airports, but significant air traffic also flows through major regional hubs. Manchester Airport leads as the largest airport outside London, with over 30 million passengers in 2024. The facility serves nearly 200 global destinations and plans a £1.3 billion upgrade to merge two terminals.

Edinburgh Airport, Scotland's busiest, handled 15.7 million passengers last year, marking its busiest period yet. The airport provides flights to over 150 international locations and maintains a robust transatlantic network.

Birmingham Airport ranks third among UK airports outside London, serving 12.7 million passengers in 2024. It acts as a base for low-cost carriers like Jet2.com and Ryanair.

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Bristol Airport, which serves Southwest England, and Glasgow Airport both recorded passenger numbers of 10.5 million last year. Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland saw an increase to 6.7 million passengers in the same period.

Newcastle International Airport remains Northeast England's largest, handling 5.1 million travelers last year. Liverpool John Lennon Airport follows closely with five million passengers.

Leeds Bradford Airport and East Midlands Airport each served around four million passengers in 2024. Leeds Bradford is notable for its high elevation and ambitions for long-haul services using next-generation aircraft.

East Midlands ranks second only to Heathrow in freight traffic within the UK, offering extensive connections through budget airlines such as Jet2 and Ryanair.