Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has referred to as on the federal government to hold out an pressing assessment of its new journey restrictions because the group launched half-year outcomes.
Figures for the primary six months of its monetary 12 months confirmed MAG passenger numbers remained 82 per cent down on pre-pandemic ranges, regardless of preliminary early indicators of restoration over the summer season.
MAG airports welcomed 6.6 million passengers between April and September, in comparison with 36.four million for a similar interval in 2019.
The group, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports, noticed year-on-year revenues enhance by £65 million, however the determine was down 70 per cent on the identical interval two years in the past.
General, MAG reported a loss earlier than curiosity and tax of £76 million for the six-month interval.
In contrast, the group returned £173 million in revenue for a similar six months in 2019.
Charlie Cornish, MAG chief government, stated: “The primary half of this 12 months tells a narrative of how journey restrictions held again the restoration of UK aviation, particularly when in comparison with the remainder of Europe.
“As restrictions eased, passenger numbers grew steadily in any respect three of our airports.
“The reintroduction of pricey and inconvenient journey testing necessities has created additional uncertainty and delayed our restoration.
“The federal government has talked overtly in regards to the injury these restrictions trigger to the journey sector, however neither they nor the opposition have recognised the important must assist our trade in return.
“As a enterprise, we’ll all the time do our half to guard public well being, however we additionally want these momentary measures to be eliminated when they’re now not worthwhile.
“These restrictions might have slowed the arrival of Omicron, however it’s now transmitting locally, and the Authorities wants urgently to assessment whether or not the quickly decreasing advantage of testing justifies the injury it’s inflicting to client confidence.”
