A total of 1.3 million passengers travelled through Manchester Airport in December 2013, which was 5.4 per cent higher than the figure recorded in 2012. The escalation in passenger figures marks the airport’s 19 consecutive month of year on year growth, with performance attributed to the busy Christmas period where the airport saw over 720,000 festive travellers arrive and depart, a rise of 1.2 per cent, as well as having over 153,000 extra seats available to popular destinations compared with the previous winter season.

Over 2.3 million passengers travelled through Manchester Airport in August 2013, which was over seven per cent up on August 2012, with market growth at just over five per cent. The increase in passenger figures marks the airport’s fifteenth consecutive month of year on year growth, with performance attributed to an increase in international scheduled traffic at 14 per cent higher than August 2012.

During the last 12 months, 19.81 million passengers travelled through Manchester Airport, delivering an extra 680,000 people more than the last financial year - equalling a 3.6 per cent year on year growth. The increase in passenger numbers has been attributed to the fourteen new destinations, including Washington DC and Moscow that were added to the route network during that time, while new destinations are being added for the summer.

Manchester Airport Group has grown its share of the UK aviation market by 0.4% to 15.8%, increasing passenger numbers across the group by 1.5m to 24.0m, which represents the first annual increase since 2008.

Eight flights have been diverted from Manchester Airport overnight due to fog in the local area and poor visibility. Four have since returned and the remaining flights are expected to return during the morning.

An investigation is underway after Manchester Airport ran out of fuel for the first time in its history. A total of 13 flights were delayed – 12 for less than 30 minutes and one for two and a half hours, according to the airport.