Liverpool John Lennon Airport has seen phenomenal post-pandemic growth which is now boosting Liverpool city region’s economy by an estimated £340m a year. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s impact on the Liverpool city region’s economy is set to accelerate in 2025 as passenger numbers continue on their upward trajectory.

LJLA has told LBN it estimates the airport’s current annual GVA contribution to the city region is around £340m, when considering direct and indirect impacts, and with airlines such as Jet2, Ryanair and easyJet adding more aircraft and routes that figure is likely to grow in 2025.

In January LBN revealed that in 2024 the airport broke through the 5m passengers a year barrier for the first time in five years, making it the fastest growing airport in the UK with 21% growth significantly ahead of its competitor airports.

In the 12-month period LJLA handled 5.08m passengers. This is the highest number since 2011 when it carried 5.3m passengers. It is also the first time it has gone above 5m since 2019 when it handled 5.045m. Its highest ever figure was 5.5m passengers in 2007.

If current growth trends continue, and all the signs are that they will, then that record will soon be broken. For 2025 the airport is projecting passenger numbers will hit around 5.4m.

For the most recent fiscal year, to March 31, 2025, that figure reached 5.2m which represented a 20% increase on the previous fiscal year. Despite the investment of five new aircraft into the airport, occupancy rates also grew by 2%.

In March 2024 Jet2 and Jet2Holidays began flying from Liverpool for the first time. This has boosted passenger numbers along with extra routes announced by easyJet and Ryanair.

Over the last 12 months the airport has welcomed new routes to the likes of Berlin, Prague, Derry, Sharm El Sheikh, Funchal, Rhodes and Zakytnthos.

With the summer season now underway those big three carriers have all started expanding their operations at the airport with easyJet adding an eighth aircraft, Jet2 a fifth adding to Ryanair’s five planes.

Director of aviation at LJLA, Paul Winfield, said: “Each time an airline bases another aircraft at the airport the wider economic benefits rise. One plane based at LJLA boosts the wider economy by tens of millions of pounds.

“It isn’t just the extra pilots and cabin crew. When an airline increases capacity it also grows the size of its operation on the ground. More roles are needed in areas such as engineering and administration as well as spending in the wider supply chain.

“And more routes means more international connections for the city region, offering more potential for inward investment in terms of additional visitors and the agglomeration impact felt by cities with strong airports.

“People see airports as the place you go to when you are flying from A to B. But they are powerful economic drivers.

“We remain keen to see how we can work with Liverpool city region to optimise the growth we are delivering to the city region and continue to deliver new airlines and routes that can benefit the city region.”

To support this expansion by its carriers, which also include Wizz Air, Aer Lingus, PLAY, , Loganair  and SunExpress, LJLA is investing to enhance the customer experience.

In September 2024 it was revealed it had been named the UK’s best airport for the second year running in a survey of thousands of air travellers. And it’s an accolade the airport is keen to keep hold of.

Earlier in the spring it was revealed that new hi-tech scanners installed in security mean that passengers will no longer have to put their liquids in clear plastic bags or electronic devices into trays. However, the 100ml limit on liquid containers remains in place for the time being.

LJLA already boasted an impressive track record in getting people through security quickly and smoothly and this change will speed up the process even further.

And once passengers arrive in the departure lounge, a new enhanced experience awaits. LJLA has invested millions of pounds in improving facilities.

In January 2024 it was announced that food and beverage operator SSP had secured a 10-year deal with LJLA to continue operating multiple outlets at the airport. This would take it to 2036 and it revealed plans to expand F&B capacity in the departure lounge by 50%.

Those plans are now coming to fruition. A new outlet, Monty’s Diner, opened in January and further expansion of the F&B offering in the rest of the lounge has also been unveiled as the airport gets ready for the peak summer getaway.

Work is also under way on a major expansion of the Aspire Executive Lounge. Since first opening its doors in May 2012, the Aspire Lounge, operated by Swissport has become extremely popular with airport users.

This new lounge will feature a two-tiered offering, with guests able to choose either the usual Aspire facilities or upgrade to the adult-only Luxe by Aspire offer for the first time, offering private booths, communal workspace, and premium snacks and drinks.

The lounge will also include its own dedicated washroom facilities. Open from 4am through to 9pm the lounge will be available to all passengers, bookable online in advance.

Paul added: “This is one of the most exciting periods in the 92-year history of LJLA. We are operating in the largest aviation market in the UK outside London and our potential for further growth is huge.

“We say we offer a ‘faster, easier, friendlier’ airport experience for all our passengers. That isn’t just a slogan – it’s a reality as many people who have passed through LJLA will testify to.

“Liverpool city region has enjoyed an economic renaissance over the past few years, despite global economic headwinds. And we have played a critical role in that by creating jobs, boosting supply chains and creating valuable connections with the rest of the world.”

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