Liverpool John Lennon Airport reveals how many passengers it expects to see over the festive period with the figure set to be 12% higher than 2023. Tony McDonough reports

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) expects to see more than 160,000 passengers arrive or depart over the festive season – 12% higher than in 2023.

Families from across the region are expected to head off on flights over the holiday period to a host of destinations direct from Liverpool, for a mix of winter sun or winter sports, whilst others will be travelling to visit friends or relatives.

Destinations likely to prove most popular include Belfast, Dublin, Isle of Man, Paris, Malaga, Alicante, Lanzarote, Prague and Tenerife.

Thanks to increased capacity from airlines, LJLA is on track to break through the 5m passengers barrier in 2024 for the first time in several years. In November LBN revealed it handled more than 3.9m passengers from January to September this year – up 23%.

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

In early September it was revealed the airport had been named the UK’s best airport for the second year running in a survey of thousands of air travellers.

Due to ongoing improvement works in the security area, the airport is advising passengers to allow extra time to pass through security this Christmas as security processing may take a little longer at peak times.

As always at this time of year, airport management is keen to remind all passengers that restrictions on liquids carried in hand luggage are still in place and to think carefully about what items they are intending to pack in hand luggage.

Electrical items such as tablets and laptops must still be placed separately in trays provided along with liquids and gels up to a maximum 100ml and in small sealable transparent bags.

Passengers are being asked to travel with their presents unwrapped if they are to be carried in hand luggage, with items including Christmas crackers not permitted by most airlines.

Robin Tudor, head of PR for LJLA, said: “We’re all really looking forward to welcoming thousands of passengers through the airport over the festive period, who will be taking advantage of the convenience of flying hassle-free from Liverpool.

“We have a lot of building work taking place at present as we get ready for an even busier summer planned for next year and so we are asking passengers at peak periods to allow a little extra time to pass through compared to normal and to come prepared, thinking carefully about what they are carrying in their hand luggage.”