East Midlands Airport passenger numbers rise
Revenue was also up by 9.4 per cent to 59.4m, according to the Manchester Airports Group's (MAG) annual report.
Zoe Higgins
A plane approaches East Midlands Airport.
MORE than 4.5m passengers passed through East Midlands Airport in 2014/15, a seven per cent increase on the previous year.
MAG is the owner and operator of East Midlands Airport, as well as Manchester, London Stansted and Bournemouth.
The annual report says: "East Midlands Airport has continued to perform well this year, seeing passenger numbers grow and demonstrating the value that a high performing local airport can bring to a region and the cities of Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.
"The airport also reached a significant milestone as it celebrated its 50th birthday in early April 2015.
"Over 95m passengers have flown through the airport during this time, with approximately half of these coming in the last ten years alone.
"Passenger numbers have steadily increased over the past year, working with existing airline partners.
"In addition to delivering significant improvements in passenger numbers and a range of new routes during the year, the airport has also handled around 312,000 tonnes of freight, but more importantly recognises the key importance of the Midlands hub to its global cargo operators.
"Over the coming year, the airport will also hope to see the beginning of a £90m investment by DHL into its sorting facility, which is the largest site operated by DHL in the UK.
"Other highlights included welcoming back Aer Lingus to the airport after an 18-year absence, the completion of a £12m redevelopment of the terminal building, which has heavily focussed on improving the customer experience and the passenger journey, and the conclusion of the airport's Sustainable Development Plan, which outlines the airport's targets for sustainable growth until 2030."