Airport News

Airport News

Manchester Airport has been named as the UK Airport of the Year at the Airport Operators Association (AOA) awards. The airport won the award in the six million passengers or more category, and was up against London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Birmingham airports.

The annual AOA awards are voted for by British Air Transport Association airlines, and were held at the Hilton London Metropole Hotel. The airport received the award due to growth in passenger numbers, increased destination choices and infrastructure investment.

Andrew Cowan, chief operating officer for Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the operator for the airport, said, “We are absolutely delighted to beat off fierce competition and win such an esteemed award. The accolade is testament to the continued hard work of all our airport staff, and we thank them for their ongoing commitment and diligence. It has been an incredibly successful year at Manchester Airport and we hope to soon see passenger numbers back over 22 million – a symbolic figure we’ve not seen since 2007.

“Over the last 12 months we have significantly grown, not just from a passenger point of view but from a destination perspective. This year we confirmed a direct route to Hong Kong, with Cathay Pacific, which will make Manchester the only airport outside of London with a direct non-stop service to China. As well as adding more routes we also continue to develop and invest in the airport, including rapidly progressing our £800m (US$1.3m) Airport City project and connecting the airport to the region’s tramway, a feat we achieved with Metrolink over a year ahead of schedule. It is for reasons like these, I believe, made us a worthy winner in the awards.”