Liverpool John Lennon Airport is set for a record-breaking year in 2025

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is set for its busiest year ever in 2025 as it gears up to welcome a record-breaking number of passengers.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) had a hugely successful 2024, keeping its top position as Which? Magazine’s number one airport in the UK for the second year running, and hitting a 5 million passenger milestone.

Now it’s going into the new year with lounge and restaurant expansion plans, extra routes about to launch and confidence that those figures will reach a new high.

“The most we’ve seen before was almost 5.5milliion back in 2007 but in 2025 we’re expecting to go beyond that,” predicts Robin Tudor, head of communications at LJLA.

“We were the fastest growing large UK airport in 2024 and we’re confident that this will be the most successful year in our history, going back over 90 years.”

One of the biggest factors in LJLA’s growth was the much-awaited arrival of Jet2 in spring, launching with 20 destinations including new ones like Menorca and Madeira.

That helped the airport finally get back to where it was before Covid in terms of passengers.

“We’d been talking to Jet2 for about 10 years before they made the decision to come here,” says Robin.  “We knew local people wanted to use Liverpool airport and they wanted to fly Jet2 but they hadn’t had that opportunity before. 

“Their arrival has been a game changer and it’s had a major impact, but we can’t forget easyJet and Ryanair who’ve both seen growth this year as well, reflecting the fact that people prefer to fly from here.

“That is always our aim: to make Liverpool the first choice. For us there were two main highlights of 2024, one was passenger numbers which represented a full recovery after Covid, and the other was being announced as the number one UK airport in Which? 

“That’s all about customer service, from toilets to staff and cleanliness, and we came out top again for the second year in a row. To win that was excellent for the airport and great for the staff because it’s a team effort, there are lots of different businesses here, whether you work in a bar, security, or check-in desks for airlines.

“We’re continuously being told that the friendliness of the staff is what makes the experience so good for everyone and that’s important.”

After such a great 2024, LJLA has revealed plans to improve the passenger experience even more over the next few months.

Changes have already started to happen in security which will mean travellers will no longer have to take electronic items or little see-through plastic bags with their 100ml items out of their luggage for scanning.

And there is going to be more choice of places to eat, drink and relax pre-flight too, ready by the end of March for the beginning of the summer season.

Robin explains: “In the main departure lounge on the lower level we’re putting in new units so people have more facilities, and we’re upgrading and extending some existing ones. 

“Estuary will be replaced by Monty’s, a new US-style diner which will still serve traditional breakfasts and it will have a bigger seating area. 

“The Kissing Gate is being refurbished to add more seating and open up outside views, we’re putting in another coffee shop next door and Starbucks is getting a refresh as well. 

“The Aspire Lounge isn’t large enough for what we need now so a new one is being built upstairs where the old Frankie & Benny’s was that can cater for twice as many passengers.”

Holidaymakers can look forward to more flights and destinations because Jet2 is operating a fifth aircraft from Liverpool and adding routes including Malaga and Malta. 

easyJet is also bringing new summer destinations such as Split in Croatia, Berlin, Prague, Marrakech and Sharm E-Sheikh in Egypt, as well as Derry closer to home, and Turkish airline SunExpress will be flying three times a week to Antalya from summer 2025. 

Find out more about Liverpool John Lennon Airport here.

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