GLASGOW AIRPORT GETS 2015 OFF TO FLYING START WITH FURTHER PASSENGER GROWTH
11.4% increase in January passenger numbers
Glasgow Airport has made the best possible start to 2015 after 485,685 passengers travelled through its doors in January 2015, representing an increase of 11.4% on the previous year.
International traffic grew by 18.1% and was bolstered by the performance of both Ryanair’s and Wizz Air’s direct services to Eastern Europe. Airlines such as Icelandair, Emirates and United also reported an increase in demand. Domestic traffic was up 6.6% compared to the same period last year and benefited from British Airways’ decision to add extra capacity on its Heathrow and London City routes.
Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “It was always going to be a challenge to follow 2014’s performance but we have managed to continue where we left off and record yet another month of growth. January is traditionally a quiet period but we experienced a marked increase in demand for international travel, particularly to some of the European destinations we have added in recent months including Wroclaw and Katowice.
“Our focus for 2015 is to ensure we build on last year’s success by securing further new routes and services. Our efforts will be aided by the welcome announcement in January that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is to be devolved. Giving the Scottish Parliament full control over APD will play a major role in strengthening our connectivity and it is vital this is progressed as soon as possible. Not only will it ensure our tourism industry can continue to flourish, it will enable us to truly leverage the opportunities presented by the series of major events that raised Scotland’s global profile throughout 2014.”
January’s performance follows the news that 2014 had been Glasgow Airport’s busiest since 2008. Annual passenger numbers were up by 4.8% to over 7.7 million ensuring the airport recorded its fourth consecutive year of growth.
Glasgow Airport also received a number of welcome announcements in January, including the launch of a new service to Donegal by Aer Lingus and confirmation that Ryanair will begin flights to Berlin, as well as add an extra daily service to Stansted, from October 2015.
Glasgow will host a series of major events in 2015, including the World Gymnastics Championships, the European Judo Championships, and the IPC Swimming World Championships – all of which will present opportunities to grow the inbound tourism potential of the city and build on the legacy of the Commonwealth Games.
Traffic Summary January 2015
Terminal passengers Month %change Feb14 - Jan15 % Change
Glasgow 485,685 11.4% 7,760,297 5.1%
Ends
Notes to editors:
Glasgow Airport is owned by AGS Airports Limited. AGS Airports is a partnership between Ferrovial and Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) established in 2014 to invest in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airports. In December 2014, Amanda McMillan, Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, was appointed as the CEO for AGS as a group.
With 30 airlines serving more than 110 destinations worldwide, including Canada, the US, the Caribbean, Europe, North Africa and the Gulf, Glasgow Airport is Scotland’s principal long-haul airport.
In addition to being Scotland’s largest charter hub, Glasgow Airport serves more Scottish destinations than any other airport and is a key component of Scotland’s transport infrastructure. The airport supports over 7,300 jobs across Scotland and makes the largest contribution of any airport to Scotland’s economy, generating hundreds of millions of pounds.
Nicola Macnaughton
Communications and Public Affairs Manager
Glasgow Airport Limited, Erskine Court, St Andrews Drive, Paisley PA3 2SW
E nicola_macnaughton@glasgowairport.com
DD +44 (0)141 848 4737
M 07770 363 023