Manchester Airport is now welcoming more passengers than ever before in its 77-year history.

On Monday, the country’s third biggest hub is set to host its 23 millionth passenger since last November.

The passenger boom has now continued for 19 consecutive months - with a five per cent increase in just the last year.

Airport bosses say there is more to come, with plans to secure more routes to far flung destinations like India and Thailand.

The wave of good fortune will flow into Greater Manchester’s 10 councils, which are shareholders in Manchester Airports Group - also owners of Bournemouth, East Midlands and Stansted.

Bosses credit their growing number of routes - there are now 210 including those to long-haul destinations like Singapore, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, Washington DC, New York, Miami and Dubai.

And yet more are to come. They include Thomas Cook Airlines’ services to Los Angeles and Boston, and Beijing with Hainan Airlines, announced during President Xi Jinping’s visit to Manchester last month.

All three are the only direct scheduled flights to those destinations outside London, cementing Manchester Airport’s branding as the ‘Global Gateway from the North’.

Ken O’Toole, managing director of Manchester Airport, said they hoped to secure direct flights to Thailand and India in the future - as well as Shanghai.

He said: “There is sufficient demand for connections to Shanghai, but we don’t take anything for granted.

“Analysis shows that Bangkok and Delhi are also wanted and it is our job to translate that into engagement with airlines to try and secure those routes.

“We continue to add frequency and growth.”

He added: “We are really pleased to have hit this significant milestone.

“We have more than 22 million people living within two hours of Manchester Airport and our continued addition of new routes and increased frequencies is seeing both business and leisure customers choose Manchester, rather than other airports.

“Next year is set to be even busier for the airport, with new routes to Beijing, Boston and Los Angeles all set to launch.

“With two full-length runways and a £1bn transformation programme announced, Manchester Airport has, and will continue to have, the available capacity and demand to meet the needs of our catchment area and beyond.”

The 23 millionth passenger, due to fly with easyJet on Monday, will be showered with prizes, including a pair of return tickets to Vienna, access to the Escape Lounge and Fast Track passes.

(Image: Andrew Stuart)

Ali Gayward, commercial manager for easyJet, said: “It’s great news that we are able to celebrate with easyJet passenger, Lucy Chaplin today who becomes Manchester Airport’s 23rd millionth passenger flown this year.

“It’s a fantastic milestone for the airport and we are delighted to be part of the growth story at the airport, working side by side with the airport.

“Next summer, we’ll add two extra aircraft to our Manchester fleet, taking the total number to 11 and also launch three new routes - Paris, Milan Malpensa and Olbia in Sardinia, taking the total number of destinations from Manchester to 44. Having just launched our inaugural flights to Vienna for this winter, we look forward to continuing to work with the airport in looking for future opportunities to open up new routes for our customers in the north west.”

Keeping passengers safe is paramount

On airport security, Ken O’Toole told the M.E.N: “Security is important, we are security conscious all of the time. It’s our first priority and it’s important for people to be aware of that.

“There is no change to the current threat level and it’s business as usual but that means that, as usual, security is our priority and we continue to work really closely with GMP, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport to monitor events. The threat level is reflective of what people experience going through airports - there is a visible presence on the site.”

Top destinations from Manchester

The most popular international destinations from Manchester Airport over the last year were:

1. Dubai

2. Dublin

3. Amsterdam

4. Tenerife

5. Palma

6. Alicante

7. Malaga

8. Paris

9. Orlando

10. Faro