Bournemouth Airport is gearing up for a significant milestone as it anticipates handling more than one million passengers in 2024, propelled by the addition of new destinations and increased flight frequencies. The latest development comes as Ryanair, one of the primary carriers at the airport, announces its 19th destination from Bournemouth.
Ryanair Announces New Route
Ryanair is set to commence twice-weekly flights to the scenic beach destination of Agadir in Morocco, starting April 1st, 2024. This expansion follows the success of Ryanair’s 2023 season, during which the airline based a second aircraft at the airport, resulting in a 30% increase in weekly flights to 120. With the addition of Agadir, Ryanair now offers a total of 19 destinations from Bournemouth.
In response to the projected surge in passenger numbers, Regional and City Airports, the owners of Bournemouth Airport, are investing more than £5 million in upgrading facilities, acquiring new equipment, hiring additional staff, and providing training. This investment aims to enhance the overall passenger experience and accommodate the growing demand for air travel.
TUI Bases 2nd Aircraft at Bournemouth
Tour operator TUI is also contributing to the airport’s growth, announcing plans to add a second aircraft at Bournemouth in 2024, resulting in an additional 60,000 seats. This represents a significant 33% increase compared to its 2023 schedule. TUI, which currently serves 14 destinations from Bournemouth, plans to increase the frequency on many routes in the upcoming year.
The combined efforts of Ryanair and TUI are expected to propel Bournemouth Airport beyond the one-million-passenger mark in 2024, a milestone not achieved since 2008. Speaking to the media, Steve Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport said:
“That’s a tremendous achievement and reflects the great range of destinations available from Bournemouth Airport and our commitment to providing the best possible experience for passengers.”
As part of the ongoing £5 million investment program, passengers can expect several improvements in the terminal. These include an upgraded security search area with new scanning equipment, relaxation of restrictions on liquids, and the elimination of the need to remove electronics from bags. Other enhancements include a new airport information desk, improved baggage screening, an additional baggage retrieval area in the Arrivals terminal, more Border Force desks in Arrivals, and improved queuing systems for passenger handling in both Departures and Arrivals.
Bournemouth Airport currently offers a total of 36 destinations. In 2023, it earned recognition as one of the top three airports in the UK for customer service, with commendations for its quality of service provided to disabled and less mobile passengers.
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