Another record year as LJLA achieves its aim of developing as many European links as possible in time for Capital of Culture year

End of year figures released today revealed that over 5.5 million passengers chose to use Liverpool John Lennon Airport in 2007, once again breaking all previous records. 

This represents an 11% increase in passenger business compared to 2006 with over half a million additional passengers using Liverpool.

Once again this continued growth can be largely attributed to the increase in the number of destinations available from Liverpool particularly across Europe, with many new services introduced by a number of airlines throughout 2007.

In June 2003, when Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary at the time announced that Liverpool would be European Capital of Culture 2008, there were just 13 scheduled services from the Airport and an annual throughput of just over 3 million passengers. At the time, the Airport said its goal for 2008 was to see the City linked directly by air to as many European destinations as possible.

Over the past four and a half years, considerable progress has been made by the Airport in realising this aim. In Capital of Culture year, LJLA will have scheduled services to over 60 European destinations and annual passenger throughput has increased by 76% since the announcement in 2003, with 2.4 million more passengers choosing to fly via LJLA.

European visitors now have the greatest possible opportunity to visit the City during Capital of Culture Year and with many flights operated by low cost carriers such easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air, they can travel to the region at some of the lowest fares too.

Neil Pakey, Managing Director of LJLA commented,
“’Since Tessa Jowell announced Liverpool was to be Capital of Culture, the Airport’s commercial team have worked tirelessly to ensure we have as many European links as possible for ’08. This ensures it is international visitors and not just locals who will enjoy all the activities ’08 will have on offer.

“2007 has been another excellent year not only for the Airport but for the region as a whole and I am confident that over the next 12 months even more new services will have been announced giving more and more visitors from across Europe the opportunity to visit the region in 2008 and beyond,” continued Neil.