Record breaking passenger numbers for Manchester and London Stansted, as MAG delivers strong summer for passengers

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is celebrating a record-breaking summer season, as passenger numbers reached an all-time high.

7 million passengers travelled through a MAG airport across August

Manchester Airport and London Stansted both marked their busiest ever months on record

Operational performance remained strong offering passengers an enjoyable summer holiday experience

In August, nearly 7 million people travelled through a MAG airport, which was 6.6% higher than in the same month in 2023.

That meant that across the peak summer season – July to August – more than 13 million passengers chose a MAG airport to start their holidays or overseas trips.

Rolling 12-month traffic figures show the Group – which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – has served 63.4 million passengers in the year to August 2024.

August was Manchester Airport’s busiest ever month on record, serving 3.4m passengers, which was up 8.8% on August 2023.

London Stansted also recorded its busiest-ever month with 3.1 million passengers flying through its terminal - an increase of 4.9% on August 2023. The month also saw the four busiest days in the airport’s history. The busiest day was 23 August with more than 103,000 passengers travelling through the airport, exceeding the previous busiest day on 24 August 2018.

East Midlands Airport served more than 540,000 passengers across August, which was up 2.8% on the same month in 2023. Over the summer season so far, more than two million passengers chose to fly from East Midlands Airport, benefitting from the recent improvements delivered as part of the five-year £120m investment into the airport.

MAG launches Little Book of Travel Tales in time for the school summer holidays!

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has launched its latest Little Book of Travel Tales to entertain young travellers this summer. 

 The book will be handed out by airport colleagues across terminals at Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports over the summer holiday period.  

It was created as part of a World Book Day competition earlier this year, which was held at schools surrounding all three airports, with schoolchildren given the chance to share their stories with passengers. 

Seven schools were involved in submitting their stories with themes including flights, aircraft, holidays and working at the airport. In addition to 13 different stories, the book includes puzzles, activities and a holiday diary.  

 The book has been published as part of MAG’s newly launched ‘Little Flyers Club’. The Club, set up for MAG’s young travellers, is made up of five animated characters – Jet, Porter, Casey, Carrie and Finn. With a dedicated webpage on all of MAG’s airport websites, parents can access both digital and print-out activities for their children (London Stansted, Manchester and East Midlands). The Club aims to educate and entertain children about travel and aviation as they fly off for their holidays. Young people can also find the characters as they travel through the airport and pose for a photo with their favourite. 

Manchester Airports Group awarded EcoVadis Gold Rating for sustainability performance

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) rating.   

MAG is the UK’s largest airport group which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports. The Group achieved the highest possible rating on its first time submitting ESG data to the platform. Achieving this rating places MAG in the top 5% of more than  130,000 companies assessed globally against sustainability criteria.

EcoVadis is one of the world’s leading providers of business sustainability ratings and  evaluates companies around the globe based on environmental, social and ethical performance. During the assessment, MAG scored over the industry average in all four categories: Ethics, Sustainable Procurement, Environment and Labour & Human Rights. In addition to this, MAG was also praised for having advanced management systems for environmental, labour & human rights and ethics issues.

Following its gold rating, MAG is working to enhance the sustainability credentials in other areas of its business. In line with one of its key strategic objectives – creating a sustainable future for all - the Group is currently working to transform its approach to supply chain management, to ensure that its procurement processes  are compatible with the sustainable future it is working towards.

In 2023, the Group launched a procurement transformation programme with one clear aim: to digitally assess the sustainability performance of its  supply chain.

Passenger numbers up 7% year on year at MAG airports

MAG is well-placed for a strong summer holiday season, as it celebrated surging passenger volumes and high levels of customer satisfaction last month.

In June, 6.3m passengers travelled through a MAG airport, which was 7% higher than the same month in 2023.

Rolling 12-month traffic figures show that the Group - which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports - has served 62.6m passengers in the year to June 2024.

Manchester and London Stansted Airports continue to have record breaking months. Manchester Airport served serving 3m passengers in June - up 6.7% year-on- year. London Stansted welcomed 2.8m passengers across the month, a figure which was up 8.3% on June 2023.

East Midlands Airport served more than half a million passengers across June, up 3.1% year-on-year.

Operational performance across the Group remains strong, with 100% of passengers at East Midlands Airport passing through security in 15 minutes or less, with the figure standing at 97% at both Manchester and London Stansted Airports.

Passenger satisfaction levels also demonstrate the positive experiences travellers are having at MAG airports. In the first six months of the year, nine out of 10 passengers rated their experience as ‘Excellent’, ‘Very Good’, or ‘Good’.

Last week, MAG published its annual results, with the Group announcing it has served 61.3m passengers in the year ended 31 March 2024, alongside record revenues of £1.2bn. MAG is now embarking on an investment programme of £2bn over the next five years across the Group – including the completion of the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme in 2025.

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A dozen of the best Lakes and Mountains holiday hotspots you can reach directly from Manchester Airport

If you’re heading abroad on holiday this summer, chances are you’ll be visiting somewhere known for sun, sea and sand. The likes of Majorca and Tenerife, famous for their golden beaches, are consistently in the top five most-visited destinations among more than 200 served by Manchester Airport’s global network.

For those of a more active persuasion, though, a trip to a scenic national park holds more appeal than a week or fortnight by the sea, and many hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers leaving Manchester this summer will be indulging their adventurous side. Places like the Alps are a hive of activity during the ski season, but offer a quiet and breathtakingly beautiful retreat in the summer. And many lakeside resorts offer all the amenities of a coastal tourist hotspot, but without the daily battle for a sun lounger.

Here, we round up some of the best Lakes and Mountains holiday hotspots you can reach directly from the North’s global hub.

Mercantour National Park

Fly to Nice with easyJet and Jet2.com

Almost a million visitors converge on Mercantour National Park in south-east France every year. Tourists can enjoy traversing over 370 miles of footpaths which criss-cross the mountain ranges, or take to their bicycles and explore on two wheels. They’ll be rewarded with breathtaking scenery such as the stunning Lac d’Allos, a crystal-clear glacial lake over 7,000ft above sea level, and the National Park’s famous ‘perched villages’, built onto steep mountainsides which bloom with an abundance of wildflowers.  Mercantour National Park is located just north of Nice on the French Riviera, with direct flights from Manchester year-round with easyJet and Jet2.com.

Tyrol

Fly to Munich with easyJet or Lufthansa

Few places encapsulate Alpine culture and scenery quite like Tyrol, in western Austria. Famous for yodelling cowherders in lederhosen, medieval castles and The Sound of Music, Tyrol is proud of its unique culture and heritage but also offers plenty to do for adventure enthusiasts. Some of Europe’s best white water rafting and rock climbing hotspots can be found here, and Tiefenbach Gorge is a picturesque hiking spot, with ancient forests and impressive waterfalls.

Foodies should try a Marend, the region’s answer to a ploughman’s lunch with local cheeses, breads and charcuterie, typically enjoyed with a serving of schnapps, beer or wine.

The German city of Munich is served directly from Manchester by easyJet or Lufthansa, and is around an hour away by car from the border with Austria – and the Tyrol region.

Lake Iseo

Fly to Milan-Bergamo with Ryanair

The Italian Lakes are world-famous, but if you’re looking for a quiet and relaxed break away from the crowds then dodge Como and Garda and head to Lake Iseo. It’s one of the smaller lakes in the region but that means its attractions are closer together and the scenery is just as incredible.

On Monte Isola, an island in the middle of the lake, no cars are permitted and the villages have barely changed in centuries. It’s a great spot to stroll and explore at a leisurely pace – but if you’re looking for a challenge, take on the hike to the Santuario della Madonna della Ceriola, a medieval chapel with sweeping views over the area. Agritourism is popular here, with local farms offering family-run accommodation.

Lake Iseo is only 20 miles from Milan-Bergamo airport, which is served directly from Manchester by Ryanair.

Manchester Airport operating smoothly following yesterdays power outage.

Manchester Airport has been operating smoothly today, the airport confirmed this evening, with all systems working as normal and no ongoing issues following yesterday's power outage.

The airport was left in chaos on Sunday after a fault with a cable sent a power surge of power across the electrical network, causing a blackout in many parts of the airport. The power outage also took the airport's baggage delivery system offline causing thousands of bags to miss departing flights or massively delayed being reunited with arriving passengers.  A number of flights were delayed, cancelled or diverted to other airports - including London Gatwick and Heathrow. 

Passengers due to fly from Manchester today and over the next few days should go online to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport. They should, according to the airport, follow their airline's instructions on when to arrive at the airport - usually two hours in advance of a short-haul flight and three hours ahead of a long-haul flight.

The airport is slightly busier than usual as airlines get passengers impacted by the disruption onto new flights. This is likely to be the case over the coming days. The airport promised to deploy extra staff in place to help passengers.

Passengers whose bags did not make it onto flights yesterday are advised to stay in contact with their airlines. The airport was working with airlines, their ground handling agents and other partners to get those bags out to passengers as soon as possible. Many were placed on flights last night and today and have already been reunited with their owners.

The airport said "We would like to thank passengers for their patience. We would also like to thank our staff as well as our partners around the airport for their hard work."

Jet2 said: "Due to the outage, some flights departed with reduced or no luggage as we were unable to load bags onto our aircraft, as the baggage system at the airport was inoperable during the outage." It advised that its UK-based Ground Operations Team would work hard to ensure that baggage was reunited with passengers as soon as possible.  "We understand how frustrating this situation must be and although the situation was beyond our control we will do everything we can to get all luggage to its final destination as soon as we possibly can. " the airline said. 

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Summer season starts strongly for UK’s largest airports group

Traffic across MAG was up 8% year-on-year in April

5.2m passengers travelled through all three airports

Manchester and London Stansted once again saw record monthly passenger volumes

The total for the Group was equal to 101% of traffic seen in April 2019

MAG saw 5.2m passengers pass through its airports in April, up 8% year-on year as the Group marked the beginning of its summer season.

The figures across MAG – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – were equal to 101% of passenger numbers seen in April 2019.

London Stansted and Manchester Airports once again recorded record months, serving 2.5m and 2.4m passengers respectively, up 5.5% and 10.9% year-on-year. London Stansted’s traffic was equal to 104% of passengers served in April 2019, and Manchester’s was 101%.

East Midlands Airport saw close to 330,000 passengers pass through its terminal across the month, up 5% year on year, and equal to 83% of traffic in April 2019.

Operational performance across the Group remains consistently strong, and in March 100% of passengers at all three airports passed through security in 15 minutes or less.

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Passengers:

	Manchester	London Stansted	East Midlands	MAG
Rolling 12-month total to April 24	28,973,445	28,643,725	4,093,017	61,710,187
12-month total % change year-on-year	+13.5%	+10.8%	+20.6%	+12.7%
April’ 24 total	2,413,783	2,480,894	327,972	5,222,649
April’ 24 % change year-on-year	+10.9%	+5.5%	+5.0%	+7.9%

Cargo:

	Manchester	London Stansted	East Midlands
April 2024 total tonnes	6,532	27,097	28,576
April 2024 % change year on year	+20.9%	+23.3%	-0.1%

Direct flights from Manchester to ‘Italy’s best kept secret’ begin this month

Passengers will soon be able to fly directly from Manchester to Reggio Calabria in southwest Italy – making Manchester the first UK airport with a direct link to the city.

Flights will run on Wednesdays and Sundays with Ryanair, starting on Sunday 28th April, from as little as £14.99 per person one-way.

The city provides visitors with an ideal base to explore the wider Calabria region – often referred to as the country’s ‘best kept secret’ by travel writers.

Calabria is the ‘toe’ of Italy’s ‘boot’, and the city of Reggio Calabria faces the island of Sicily across Strait of Messina. The region is one of the most affordable parts of the country to visit and has long been popular with Italian tourists, but international visitors are only just beginning to discover this hidden gem – which combines white sand beaches and spectacular scenery with the culture, architecture and fantastic food that Italy is famous for.

Here are just some of the highlights that holidaymakers from Manchester will be able to indulge in this summer;

Lap up the sun on a Calabrian beach

If it’s sun, sea and sand you’re after, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Calabria, which has more outstanding beaches than you could ever hope to visit in one trip. Some of the very best are found in and around the village of Tropea, which is less than two hours from Reggio Calabria by train and makes for a great day trip.

Annual passenger numbers across MAG airports increase by 13%

More than 61m passengers travelled through MAG airports in the 12 months to the end of March - up 13.4% year-on-year.

MAG – which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports – served 4.6m passengers in March, equal to 103% of 2019 levels, and up 12.4% on the same month last year.

London Stansted recorded its busiest 12 months ever, with 28.5m passengers travelling through the airport in the year to the end of March 2024 – up 11.8% on last year. Across what was also its busiest March on record, London Stansted served 2.2m passengers – up 10.8% on last year and equal to 104% of 2019 levels.

61.3m passengers travelled through a MAG airport in the 12 months to March

UK’s largest airports group welcomed 4.6m passenger in March

London Stansted had its busiest 12 months on record – with 28.5m passengers travelling through the airport

Manchester Airport also had a record month, serving 2.2m passengers in March – the sixth consecutive month it recorded its best-ever performance. The figure was 104% of 2019 levels, up 12.3% year-on-year.

East Midlands Airport had the highest year-on-year increases in the Group this month – reaching an annual total of 4.1m passengers for the first time since 2019 – up 22.4% on last year. Across March, the airport welcomed 240,000 passengers, up 30.7% on the same months last year, and equal to 94% of 2019 levels.

Operational performance across the Group remains consistently strong, and in March 100% of passengers at all three airports passed through security in 15 minutes or less.

New report shows 50 new direct long-haul routes could be unlocked at Manchester Airport by integrating investment in new transport infrastructure

Political and business leaders back report showing how Manchester Airport can drive Northern growth and a rebalancing of the economy

Regional political and business leaders have backed the report – saying “Manchester Airport  should be at the heart of our plan to transform the North’s connectivity if we are to drive productivity and growth”

Government measures needed include investment in new high speed rail network in the North, with Airport at its heart

 

Political and business leaders have urged the next government to place Manchester Airport at the heart of a modern, integrated transport network in the North and maximise its role in rebalancing the UK economy.

The calls were made after a new report revealed what the full economic potential of the Airport would be if the right conditions were in place to unlock “transformational growth” across the North.

Produced by Arup, it states that between now and 2050, the Northern gateway could secure direct flights to 50 new world-leading cities including Sydney, Tokyo, Montreal, Mumbai, Riyadh, San Francisco and Cape Town, driving passenger volumes to as high as 60m a year.

Those links would drive significant increases in exports, inward investment, tourism and cultural exchange for the North, growing Manchester Airport’s annual economic impact on the North to £16.3bn and leading to support for more than 80,000 more jobs.

The report spells out the opportunity for Ministers to create a “supportive policy environment” that enables both the Airport, and the Northern economy as a whole, to flourish.

The centrepiece of that would be the delivery of a high-speed rail network that transforms journey times between the likes of Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Bradford and the airport.

That would build on MAG’s own £1.3bn investment in the transformation of its facilities, which is helping unlock the potential of its existing two runways.

Alongside measures like investing in local transport schemes, funding and policy support for aviation sustainability and the right national tourism strategy, that would create a transformational growth scenario that by 2050 would also lead to:

Gross value added (GVA) impact from the airport in the North tripling from £5.7bn to £16.3bn

  Potential for more than 50 new long-haul routes

 Around 25 new short-haul routes

Employment for over 165,000 people compared to 80,000 people today. That is equivalent to the population of Harrogate

More than 260,000 businesses would be within 90 minutes of the airport – compared to 70,000 today

Potential for the airport to serve up to 60m passengers each year compared to 27m today

The creation of 6,500 jobs and £930m of economic value through the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) pipeline and production capability that serves Manchester Airport and the UK as a whole

MAG CEO Ken O'Toole said: "Manchester Airport is well-established as the UK’s global gateway in the North, connecting the region to an ever-increasing range of destinations such as Beijing, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York, Houston, Toronto and across the Middle East.

“We know this connectivity delivers billions of pounds of economic value to the North by driving trade, investment and tourism and, spurred by our own £1.3bn investment in new terminal facilities and infrastructure the Airport, we will continue to grow and support growth across the region in the years to come.

Manchester Airport and Royal Jordanian Airlines celebrate inaugural flight to Amman

The inaugural Royal Jordanian Airlines flight from Manchester Airport to Amman took off on Wednesday, 6 March.

The new service will operate three times weekly from thew UK’s global gateway in the North to the Jordanian capital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays using the Airbus A319 aircraft.

This is a brand-new route for Manchester Airport and adds to the over 200 destinations served from the UK’s biggest airport outside London.

Manchester Airport Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Turner said:  “We are proud to connect the people of the North to an ever-growing network of more than 200 destinations all over the world - and adding Amaan to the list is very exciting.

Amaan is a fantastic city in its own right with ancient ruins from a range of cultures, a bustling downtown with great shopping and food, and some incredible museums and galleries – but it also opens up the rest of the country and the Levantine region.

Jordan has something for everyone; Petra is one of the seven wonders of the world, Aqaba is one of the best spots for Red Sea diving and the Wadi Rum Desert is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

We’re not only looking forward to seeing people jetting off to Jordan, but also to welcoming passengers from the area to Manchester so they can experience everything the North has to offer.”

At almost 2,500 miles, the new route is Royal Jordanian’s longest European flight. It takes around 5h 45m.  

Speaking when the route was announced last year, Royal Jordanian Airlines’ chief commercial officer Karim Makhlouf said:   “Our new route to Manchester will make it easier than ever for tourists from UK to discover Jordan’s incredible wonders.  Promoting and driving tourism to the Kingdom is a key focus of our new corporate strategy – as is our emphasis on further developing Amman as the primary gateway to the Levant by offering improved connectivity to our broader network.”

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7 active holiday ideas for 2024, just one flight from Manchester

 If you’ve made a new year’s resolution, there’s a good chance that living more healthily comes into it. Research for Forbes showed that nearly two thirds of resolutions people make are connected to exercise or dietary changes, and becoming more active is the most common resolution made.

January is also one of the most popular times of year to book a holiday, with millions making plans for this summer – and if you’re looking to incorporate a health kick into your next sunny getaway, you’ll be spoilt for choice if you’re flying from Manchester. The northern hub boasts direct flights to more than 200 destinations and many of them offer holiday experiences that go far beyond the classic combination of sun, sea and sand.

Here are seven ideas to get your adrenaline pumping.

Climb a volcano in Italy

Mount Etna is something of an enigma; standing alone amidst the quiet rolling hills of Sicily, off the coast of the Italian mainland, is one of the world’s most active stratovolcanoes. It’s also one of the most visited, thanks in part to the fact it lies less than 25 miles from the popular Mediterranean resort of Catania.

Multiple tour operators lead expeditions up the volcano’s slopes, where you can circle the crater (safety permitting!) and see lava flows. Exploring volcanic caves also forms a part of many excursions, and some tours include visits to vineyards at the foot of Etna, which benefit from fertile volcanic soils. The return trip typically takes around 6 hours and requires a moderate level of fitness, but you don’t need to be an expert hiker. Once you’re finished on Etna, Sicily is a fantastic place to explore on foot, with dozens of trails and footpaths through unspoilt countryside.

Flights to Catania from Manchester are available with easyJet or Ryanair.

UK’s largest airports group records positive half year results

A successful summer season delivered a positive first-half performance for MAG, leaving it in a strong position to continue its investment in its airports to improve customer service and support sustainable growth.

MAG (Manchester Airports Group), which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, today published its interim results for the period 1 April – 30 September 2023, during which it generated record half-year revenues of £705.6m (FY23: £565.2m).

Its airports collectively handled 34.9m passengers during the period, up 4.4m on the prior year. That represented just under 96% of pre-pandemic levels. In July, London Stansted became the first major airport to exceed pre-Covid volumes when compared to the same month in 2019, with Manchester marking that milestone in October, when East Midlands reached the 98% mark.

Manchester Airport welcomed 16.4m passengers between April and September, with 15.8m passing through London Stansted and 2.7m through East Midlands.

 Not only did all MAG airports increase passenger volumes between April-September, they delivered consistently good service levels, with the vast majority of passengers passing through security in 15 minutes of less throughout the summer (Manchester – 96%, London Stansted – 98%, East Midlands – 100%). In July, all three received the highest possible rating from the Civil Aviation Authority for the service they provide to passengers with assisted travel needs.

Strong September performance for MAG airports

  MAG served 5.9m passengers in September

Passenger levels at London Stansted were 100% of those seen in September 2019

Service levels across all three of MAG’s airports were very high across the month

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) served 5.9m passengers across its airports in September. Traffic across the Group, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, was up 21% on September 2022.

Service levels in September remained high, with 100% of passengers at East Midlands Airport passing through security in less than 15 minutes. The figure was 99% for London Stansted and 98% at Manchester.

London Stansted served 2.6m passengers during the month, slightly ahead of the volumes recorded in September 2019.

Manchester Airport served 2.8m passengers in September – an increase of 12% on September 2022 and equal to 96% of pre-pandemic levels. East Midlands’ September traffic of just under 500,000 passengers was 25% higher than the same month in 2022, equivalent to 84% of pre-Covid traffic.

Across the group, the 5.9m figure represented 97% of 2019 levels.

On 1st October, Ken O’Toole assumed the role of MAG CEO, as Charlie Cornish stepped down after 13 years. Ken had previously held several senior roles across MAG, most recently at Deputy CEO and formerly as CEO of both London Stansted and Manchester Airports. Charlie Cornish now sits as MAG’s Chairman, following the retirement of Sir Adrian Montague.

Passengers:

	Manchester	London Stansted	East Midlands	MAG
Rolling 12-month total to Sept ’23	27,279,257	27,375,553	3,794,763	58,449,546
12-month total % change year-on-year	+31.2%	+32.2%	+29.2%	+31.5%
Sept ’23 total	2,831,930	2,620,118	464,348	5,916,396
Sept ’23 % change year-on-year	+12.2%	+10.0%	+25.1%	+12.1%

Cargo:

	Manchester	London Stansted	East Midlands
Sept 2023 total tonnes	5,977	24,043	31,385
Sept 2023 % change year on year	+12.1%	+13.2%	-7.2%

UK’s largest airport group served 5.8m passengers in June, equal to 96% of pre-pandemic levels

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) saw more than 5.8m passengers pass through its airports in June, an increase of 13.7% on June 2022.

The Group which owns Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports also recorded a rolling 12-month passenger total of more than 56 million passengers – up 67.8% on last year.

Manchester Airport served 2.8m passengers across the month – up 15% on June 2022, and London Stansted served 2.6m passengers – up 11% on last year. East Midlands Airport served 487,000 passengers in June, up 22% on June 2022.

All three airports passenger volumes were equivalent to more than 90% of June 2019 levels. London Stansted’s recovery continues to lead the way – and in June was 98% of 2019 levels. Manchester Airport’s passenger levels were equivalent to 94% and East Midlands’ stood at 91%. Collectively, the Group’s passenger figures were 96% of those seen in June 2019.

Across the early part of the summer season, MAG has delivered a consistent level of customer service for passengers. In the quarter from April-June 99% of passengers at East Midlands Airport passed through security in 15 minutes or less, the figure was 97% at London Stansted and 95% at Manchester. As the Group prepares for its busiest period when school holidays begin in July, it is working hard to ensure this high level of service continues.

ABM doubles cabin cleaning presence at Manchester Airport

ABM, a leading provider of integrated facility and aviation services, has more than doubled the number of airlines it serves at Manchester Airport and increased headcount by 163% following the award of three new contracts.  

The multi-year contracts serving 10 airlines mark a significant increase in presence at the Northern aviation hub, which is in the final stage of a £1.3billion transformation programme. ABM’s aviation division offers cabin cleaning as one of its two core services, with decades of successful service delivery experience and world class expertise. With cabin cleaning contracts at all major UK airports, the new partnerships are part of ABM’s strategic growth plan.   

As part of the agreements, ABM has invested significantly in new ground equipment including four minibuses, one high lift, one water service unit, one waste trailer and a duty manager car. The partnerships will also see the company supporting the ambitious growth plans and passenger experience campaigns from the different airlines with impeccably clean and hygienic planes, courtesy of ABM.   

Jim Niblock, ABM Managing Director for Aviation says: “Sustainable service delivery is highly dependent on a happy and engaged team on the ground. One contract has meant a significant number of new team members which is why management implemented regular crew room visits, and numerous one-to-ones with individuals in advance of contract mobilisation.   

Manchester Airport launches new UK-first apprenticeship scheme

Two- year operationally focused scheme is the first of its kind in the UK aviation sector

Paid programme gives apprentices a foundation degree level qualification.

Scheme builds on the airport’s commitment to delivering skills and education opportunities to communities closest to it

Manchester Airport announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind apprenticeship scheme, creating a new route for future airport leaders to embark on a career in aviation.

 The two-year scheme - titled Aviation Management - will give students experience of all the elements of and airport operation. Upon successful completion, apprentices will then be offered permanent roles at the airport, with opportunities to progress into team-leader positions and beyond as they develop through their careers.

 The scheme has been developed by Manchester Airports Group (MAG), as part of its long-term commitment to delivering education and skills training across the regions it serves, and to provide students with more choice when they leave education, offering a paid role with a structured development programme.

 Delivered in partnership with Trafford College, the apprenticeship will be the equivalent of a foundation degree or the first year of an undergraduate degree, with at least 30 students completing the programme, debt-free.

 Apprentices’ time will be split through a combination of workplace training at the airport, and classroom-based learning delivered at the on-site Manchester Airport Academy.