Manchester on course for record breaking year as it welcomes 22 mln passengers

Manchester, Britain's busiest provincial airport, today achieved its pre-recession passenger numbers, and is on course to set an all-time record this year in its 76-year history.

The airport, third biggest in Britain, passed its 22 million milestone for the number of passengers carried in a twelve month period.

Manchester's highest ever rolling 12-month passenger number was 22,262,900, which was reached in July 2006.

Today's achievement follows the airport's busiest ever December, and with a 24 percent increase in passengers since 2010, is a testimony to Manchester's recession bounce-back, said airport officials.

The news of the 22 million breakthrough was shared with the 19,000 staff who work at Manchester Airport, last year voted the UK Airport of the Year.

Last fall Manchester added the first non-stop flight from a provincial British airport to China, with the introduction of a Cathay Pacific route to Hong Kong.

Further non-stop direct flights to the Far East are expected to be announced this year, airport officials added in a statement. Details of the proposed routes to Asia are still under wraps.

The airport's chief commercial officer Ken O'Toole said: "Manchester Airport's significant growth is testament to the critical role it plays in UK aviation, providing the North of England and our extended catchment area with global connectivity through an unrivalled network of short and long haul destinations.

"We have more than 22 million people living within two hours of Manchester Airport and our continued addition of new routes and increased frequencies is seeing customers choosing to fly from Manchester."

More than 65 airlines now operate over 200 routes from Manchester.

The milestone proved lucky for the 22 millionth passenger who was rewarded with two return tickets from Manchester to Miami. Enditem