East Midland's airport has revealed the top destinations among holidaymakers using the airport, many of whom are travelling for the first time since restrictions. More than 400,000 passengers used the airport during July showing that the travel industry is returning to its pre-covid figures.
The airport has also revealed the most popular destinations for holidaymakers this year with Spanish locations topping the list. Family favorites such as mainland Spain and the Spanish islands continue to be the most popular destinations, such as Palma De Mallorca, Alicante and Malaga at the top of the list.
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Tenerife, Lanzarote and Barcelona are also high on the list as holidaymakers flock to the beaches and islands. Outside of Spain, popular destinations include Faro in Portugal, Dublin in Ireland and Dalaman in Turkey.
In July, passenger volumes grew by 73 percent of pre-covid levels which was a 472 percent increase from the previous year. This time last year, restrictions were still in place along with strict testing and regulations around flying which varied depending on each country. Many passengers opted for staycations instead of holidays abroad.
The airport reported that an average of 15,000 passengers are using the service each day compared to 4,000 passengers the year before. EMA is expecting that the last two to three weeks of the summer holidays will see similar numbers visiting the airport in August.
Monday, August 29 is expected to be the busiest day of the summer with over 17,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport. The increase in passenger numbers has created a strain on services in airports across the UK with some places suspending flights due to the rise.
EMA has put plans in place to cope with the demand such as increased recruitment, the addition of customer service ambassadors and student cadets. They are keen to stress the passengers should keep an eye on advice from airlines and arrive at the terminal for check-in when it is suggested that they do so, not before or after
Clare James, EMA’s Managing Director, said: “It’s been wonderful to see our terminal buzzing with excited holidaymakers again. This summer has marked the start of a proper recovery following aviation’s most difficult period in its history. We’re delighted with the strong performance to date, and we look forward to working with the airlines that serve this airport to build on this for the coming seasons.”
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