Regional and City Airports (RCA) Group saw a “robust growth in passenger numbers” during the April to October summer period.
The group, which owns and operates Bournemouth, Norwich and Exeter airports in the UK, recorded almost 1.5 million passengers during the summer months, up from 1.31 million in the same period last year – an increase of 13.4 per cent.
The summer growth builds on a 15 per cent rise in passenger numbers reported for the year ending March 2024.
Bournemouth Airport led the increase with a 14 per cent surge, welcoming 840,210 summer passengers – up by 103,000 compared to the previous year.
The increase positions the airport to surpass one million passengers in 2024, a milestone not achieved since 2008.
RCA said contributing factors to Bournemouth’s success include TUI’s expansion, which added a second aircraft and 60,000 additional seats this summer, as well as the continued growth of Ryanair’s 20-route network.
The group is currently investing tens of millions of pounds in Bournemouth Airport’s infrastructure to prepare for Jet2 and Jet2holidays’ new operations.
From February 2025, Jet2 will launch 20 routes from Bournemouth with two aircraft, followed by a third aircraft from summer 2026.
Norwich Airport saw a 23 per cent increase in passenger numbers, reaching 316,000 for the summer.
This growth was driven by Ryanair’s first-ever routes from Norwich to Alicante, Faro and Malta, which collectively carried 63,000 passengers, surpassing the initial forecast of 60,000.
It has prompted Ryanair to continue the Alicante route through winter 2024 and maintain all three routes next summer.
Exeter Airport also experienced positive growth, recording a 5 per cent rise to 338,000 passengers.
RCA said this was boosted by a new Ryanair service to Palma and is expected to accelerate next year with the introduction of a second TUI aircraft and 80,000 additional seats, along with new routes and increased frequency on many services.
Regional and City Airports CEO Andrew Bell said: “These results highlight the strength of regional airports in providing essential choice and convenience to their local communities.
“Our airports have continued to innovate and adapt, and this growth reflects the dedication and resilience of our teams. We’re proud to see such strong performance across the board.”
All three RCA airports were ranked among the top six UK airports for customer service in a national survey published this summer, delivering a superior experience compared to larger airports.
The group also holds a management contract for Solent Airport and owns XLR Executive Jet Centres at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter and Liverpool.
