Low cost carrier growth fuels regional airport expansion

Recent numbers released by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) indicate that the growth of regional airports in the UK is strongly connected with the growth of low cost airline carriers in the country.

According to the CAA, 3 million more passengers used regional airports in 2006 than in the previous year. In 2006, a total of 98 million people flew from a regional airport, or in other words, 42 per cent of airport passengers countrywide.

Low cost airlines have been expanding to meet this demand. The head of media and public affairs at the Airport Operators Association, Chris Goater, remarked on the connection. "It's certainly true that regional and airports across the country have continued to grow.

According to Goater, the regional airports in the UK are currently experiencing a much faster rate of growth than their larger counterparts, at least proportionally speaking.

Obviously what you have seen in recent years is growth in ability of low cost carriers, he said. "[Low cost airlines] want to run off smaller airports and try to use the advantages of doing that. The two have gone hand in hand the airports have grown with the low cost airlines."

This expansion has resulted in more flights being offered to European locations like Italy, Spain and France, at a lower cost from a larger number of airports in the UK.




Follow these links to find out more or to get a quote on Travel insurance, UK airport parking, UK airport hotels or UK airport lounges.



Jennifer Jones Editorial


28/09/2007


Related Travel News:

 
 



Read more UK travel news