National Express says it has seen ‘a huge surge’ in passengers travelling on its coach services to Manchester Airport this year. In the six months to the end of June 2024, the operator reports 50% increase in passenger journeys to and from the airport compared to the same period in 2023.
The growth in passengers follows several improvements to services for Manchester Airport earlier this year, the firm says, including faster journey times between Manchester and London, and revised daily services between Liverpool, Bradford, Warrington, Leeds, and Manchester Airport.
An increase in passenger journeys on services to Birmingham Airport was also seen, nearly 40% up in the first half of this year compared to the first half of 2024, the firm says, while services to and from Bristol Airport are also up 21%.
Ahead of the busy summer period, the operator also launched its new marketing campaign, “if you know, you go National Express” marketing campaign, aimed at shifting perceptions of coach travel and encouraging people to choose National Express.
Customer and Marketing Director for National Express UK & Ireland Catherine Woolfe said: “We continue to invest in routes connecting our UK coach network with key airport destinations, and this increase in journeys demonstrates that savvy customers are choosing the most cost effective and sustainable transport option. Hundreds of services run day and night to every major airport and customers are repeatedly choosing us because they know we’re the most reliable, affordable and convenient option, with our brilliant coach drivers taking them right to the airport terminal door.
“In anticipation of a busy summer period, we’re looking forward to providing even more customers with great value coach travel and a first-class experience for their summer getaway.”
Managing Director of Manchester Airport Chris Woodroofe added: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the people of the North to the places they want to visit via our route network of more than 200 destinations – that’s better than any UK airport outside London. We’re seeing record passenger numbers and more and more of them are arriving on our unrivalled public transport links. It’s great to see the excellent services provided by National Express doing so well. They help passengers not only by removing the stress from their journeys – but also by cutting the carbon footprint of travel to and from the airport.”
