Liverpool John Lennon Airport looks to hit new heights in 2011
Despite reduced capacity throughout the winter Liverpool John Lennon Airport's passenger levels are expected to be the busiest since 2008.
The first three months of 2011 all saw year-on-year falls, with the 1.05m passengers using the airport 5.6% below last year.
Cuts in the number of routes operated over the winter has resulted in five consecutive monthly falls.
Despite the first-quarter figures – which usually account for a little more than 20% of the annual total – JLA’s management is forecasting an improvement for the year as a whole with routes to a range of destinations across Europe expected to increase traffic.
It is targeting 5.25m passengers for 2011, which would show an increase of 170,000 people, adding to the 130,000 increase a year earlier.
JLA’s busiest year was in 2007, when 5.47m passengers used the airport, before the recession hit.
Robin Tudor, spokesman for Liverpool John Lennon Airport, said: “The figures reflect the continued impact of some reduced capacity within the winter schedules this year compared to last year and the challenging economic environment.
“However, we remain optimistic for the year ahead and are forecasting approximately 5.25m passengers for 2011 calendar year with new routes to Brussels, Gibraltar, Tallinn, Toulon, Kos, Rhodes and others, as well as some additional capacity on existing routes during the summer period.
“This equates to an expected increase of over 3% for the year, which in the current difficult economic climate would be good news, particularly when we look at 2010 and the fact that Liverpool was only one of four UK airports in the top 20 to see any growth last year.”
Last June, Peel Group sold 65% of Peel Airports – of which JLA accounts for a large majority – to Canadian group Vancouver Airport Services (VAS) for £110m.
VAS has said it is looking to increase passenger numbers and the revenues generated from passengers using the airport and its facilities, which were extended last year.
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