Emirates on track for record year at Manchester Airport

Emirates has revealed the ongoing demand for its Manchester to Dubai route, reporting a 9.5% annual growth on 2015. 610,000 passengers have flown between the two cities this year, and Emirates is all set to hit the record milestone of 1,000,000 during the 2016 financial year (1st April 2016 – 31st March 2017).

Emirates’ presence at Manchester has grown significantly since its first full year of operation in 1991, during which it carried just 17,000 passengers from the region. It has since carried over nine million people to the UAE and beyond, with popular destinations including Bangkok, Perth, Singapore and Mumbai.

The airline recently announced that a third daily A380 service will be added to the route from 1st January 2017, replacing the existing Boeing 777-300ER, and adding a further 11% capacity.

Laurie Berryman, Emirates vice president, UK, said: “Manchester was the second route launched in the UK and it remains just as important to our operations today as it was 25 years ago. Since 1990, Manchester has grown from a small regional airport to a vital gateway for the North of the country, and the demand we’re seeing for both travel and exports to Dubai and beyond has never been stronger.

“To hit the symbolic milestone of one million passengers will be hugely significant for us, and will only strengthen our commitment and contribution to the region. We are the only airline to employ the iconic A380 outside of London, and the launch of the third daily service will allow us to offer even more of our Manchester passengers the exceptional level of service they have come to expect from us.”