Cargo volumes increase at Manchester Airport

05/05/2010

By Sam Lock.

Manchester Airport has unveiled a sharp increase in cargo volumes during the first quarter of 2010.

According to airport officials, 26,300 tonnes of imports and exports were handled at the facility between the beginning of January and the end of March, a 16 per cent increase on 2009 figures.

The airport is yet to return to pre-recession levels of operation, however, since it dealt with nearly 36,000 tonnes of goods in the first quarter of 2008.

Manchester Airport commercial director Andrew Harrison told the Manchester Evening News that cargo volumes are often an early indicator of a potential rise in passenger numbers.

"For example, from May 2008, cargo volumes showed a year-on-year decline every month until last December, whereas the UK economy didn't officially enter into recession until late 2008," Mr Harrison said.

The number of enquiries by companies looking to expand their freight operations is also increasing, he added.

In other news, Jet2 launched a new route from Manchester Airport to Funchal on the island of Madeira on Monday (May 3rd).