Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said it delivered a strong start to 2023 with passenger volumes at more than 90% of those seen pre-pandemic.

MAG, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, said it served 3.6 million passengers in January.

The figure was up by more than 140% on January 2022, when the group served just 37% of pre-pandemic traffic, amid Omicron testing requirements that remained in place for passengers travelling to and from the UK.

MAG is privately managed on behalf of its shareholders — Australian investment fund IFM Investors (35.5%), Manchester City Council (35.5%) and nine other Greater Manchester councils (29%).

London Stansted served 1.8 million passengers in January — representing 94% of pre-pandemic traffic. Manchester Airport served 1.6 million passengers — equivalent to 90% of passengers served in the same month in 2019.

East Midlands Airport’s traffic for the month was 63% of pre-pandemic levels.

Across MAG, January’s passenger figures were 91% of those seen in the same month in 2019.

In January, Manchester Airport also announced the final phase of its £1.3 billion transformation programme.