Airport continues to show rise in annual passenger figures
PASSENGERS numbers have continued to grow for the past five years at East Midlands Airport, according to figures.
Almost 231,000 passengers flew to and from East Midlands Airport in December - 5,000 more than in the previous year. And 120,000 of those flew during the peak Christmas and New Year get-away period.
As well as ending a busy year for EMA, December saw the conclusion of a five-period of consistent growth in passenger numbers for the airport - since 2013, passenger numbers have increased by 12.7 per cent. Dur- ing that time, the airport has also hit new milestones for cargo. It now facilitates over £10bn worth of non-EU trade a year and handles 1,000 tonnes of goods a day, making its dedicated freighter aircraft operation the largest of any UK airport.
While winter sunshine resorts such as the Canary Islands and those in Southern Spain continue to top the list of destinations for EMA passengers between now and April, over the coming weeks the airport will be popular with winter sports enthusiasts flying to Geneva, Salzburg and Chambery.
Greek island Santorini and Shannon in the Republic of Ireland are new additions to the 80-plus destinations available to EMA passengers. After a gap of nearly five years, flights to Tunisia return with TUI to Enfidha Hammanet.
And, in response to the national increase in demand for travel to Eastern European resorts, Jet2. com have added Bourgas in Bulgaria to its list of routes from EMA this summer.
Even with Brexit looming, airport bosses are advising passengers not to worry and book this year’s holidays and trips with confidence, as agreements are in place to ensure that passenger flights between the UK and EU can continue post-March, even in the event of a no-deal.
Karen Smart, EMA’s managing director, said: “This is great news for people looking to get away for a weekend city break, skiing or a much-earned summer holiday by the pool and beach. And with a wider selection of routes, coupled with our family-friendly facilities and convenient location, we’re the perfect choice of airport to begin your next holiday.”
Gearing up for its busy summer season, EMA is recruiting additional staff for important roles across its security, passenger services and retail operations. People interested in working at the airport can find out more at the airport’s jobs fair on Saturday, January 26, from 10am2pm, in the departure hall.