PASSENGER numbers and profits at East Midlands Airport fell during the last financial year as it battled the recession, heavy snow and volcanic ash.
A total of 4.1 million passengers used the Castle Donington hub between April 2010 and April 2011, down from 4.5 million the previous year and 5.4 million in 2008-09.
Meanwhile profits fell by £2.6 million to £7.1 million, with bosses blaming last year’s ash cloud crisis for the loss of £600,000 in revenue.
The eruption of the Icelandic volcano, Eyjafjallajoekull, in April 2010, caused UK airspace to be shut down for six days.
There was better news for the airport’s freight and mail business, which dealt with 308 million tonnes of cargo, up 5.5 per cent on last year.
Encouraging signs were also seen in passenger numbers in the latter part of the financial year, with 70,000 people using the airport over Easter, up 1.1 per cent from the same period last year.
An airport spokesman said: “In a year dominated by the impact of the volcanic ash cloud, heavy snow and a slower than anticipated economic recovery, East Midlands Airport was no different to other UK airports in experiencing a downturn.
“But the headline figures obscure the fact that commercial income and yields have exceeded expectations year-on-year and cargo tonnage flown exceeded all previous levels.
“So far this financial year passenger numbers are four per cent above the UK market average, which remains flat.
“Manchester Airports Group is continuing its investment in East Midlands Airport with the £22 million new four-star hotel and a new £2.9 million hangar development.”
East Midlands is part of Manchester Airport Group PLC, which also runs Manchester, Bournemouth and Humberside airports.
The group as a whole recorded an operating profit of £51.3 million, down from £56.1 million last year, but said it would have made profits of £57.1 million were it not for the impact of the ash cloud.
