Regional airports grow faster

[25th June 2008]

The Civil Aviation Authority’s Aviation Trends report shows that regional airports are continuing to grow at a faster rate than London airports.

The new quarterly Aviation Trends from the CAA covers key trends in the number of flights and passengers at UK airports and the first report covers the first quarter of 2008.

The number of passengers at UK airports in the first three months of 2008 increased by 1.2 million, 2% more than the same period in 2007. The figure for the year ending 31st March 2008 shows an increase of 5.3 million passengers, or 2% on the year ending 31st March 2007.

However, while the number of passengers using scheduled flights grew by 3%, the number using charter flights actually fell by 1%. The CAA says the fall in charter passengers was seen at all UK airports.

“The London airport passenger growth for quarter 1 was slower than growth at regional airports. The year ending figures support the general trend seen in recent years for faster passenger growth in the regions than at London airports,” the CAA report says.

The statistics throw up more interesting trends. Flights to and from regional airports decreased by 3%, but the number of passengers increased by 3%. This indicates that “aircraft with higher seat numbers were flown, or load factors had increased,” says the CAA.

At London airports passenger numbers increased by 2% and flights by 1%. Overall flights to and from UK airports in the first quarter of 2008 were down 1%. “This was driven principally by a fall in scheduled flights at regional airports,” reports the CAA. However, regional scheduled passenger numbers grew 4% in the quarter.

Written by: Nick Purdom