A new first: 100 million through UK regional hubs :: 13/11/2007 :: Airport Parking News

Budget flights increase regional traffic

For the first time ever, numbers of passengers using regional airports in the United Kingdom has passed the 100 million people per year mark. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, regional hubs in the UK are seeing 3 times more traffic than they did in 1990.

The trend seems to stem from low-cost carriers that use regional airports instead of major hubs like London's Heathrow, Liverpool or Manchester. This migration to regional facilities by budget airlines has brought a god deal of customers with them, causing passenger numbers to double between 2002 and 2006, giving the regionals 42% of total UK air passengers.

CAA group director of economic regulation Harry Bush says, 'Regional airports have continued to develop new services rapidly and have put themselves firmly on the map as gateways for travel to and from the regions they serve. There are connections to business as well as leisure destinations in Europe and further afield - including services to hub airports in Europe, the USA and Middle East - which allow numerous onward connections.'