MANCHESTER Airport is celebrating its busiest October on record.

More than 2.8 million passengers travelled through the terminal in search of some sun during half term.

Dubai was the most popular single destination during the month but two airports in Turkey and four Spanish airports made the top 10.

New routes have also proved popular with more than 11,000 passengers taking advantage of flights to Las Vegas that were launched by Virgin Atlantic in June and flights to Shanghai through Juneyao Air that started the following month.

During October 99 per cent of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to get to security and 94 per cent waited less than 10 minutes.

Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe said: “We’re really proud to serve the people of the North – connecting them to the destinations they want to travel to.

“That’s why it’s always good to see new routes doing so well.

"Shanghai and Las Vegas are two destinations we were very excited to add to our network, which was already the biggest of any UK airport outside London.

"We always expected them to be popular and that has certainly proved to be the case.

“It’s also great to see that pretty much all our passengers got to security in less than 15 minutes, despite it having been a really busy period over half term.

“Not having to wait to get to security makes a big difference as it means people can relax and start their holidays at the airport.”

October was the 13th consecutive month that Manchester Airport has broken its passenger record and comes after the airport joined the so-called ‘30 Million Club’ by recording 30.1 million passengers in a 12 month period.

Manchester Airport’s transformation programme will be completed in 2025.

When it is finished more than 70 per cent of its passengers will use the brand new Terminal 2.

The first half of the new Terminal opened in 2021 and the second is on track to open next year.

In September the airport announced a range of new shops and food and drink outlets – including a dedicated Chanel beauty outlet, Lego Store, Pandora, JD Wetherspoon pub and Great Northern Market Hall - that will operate in the second phase of Terminal 2.

As part of the project Terminal 1 will close and the number of airlines operating from Terminal 3 will be reduced to make the new terminal the heartbeat of the airport A number of airlines have already moved from Terminals 1 and 3 and more will move over the coming months.

The top 10 destinations for October were: 1. Dubai 2. Antalya 3. Amsterdam 4. Dublin 5. Alicante 6. Tenerife 7. Palma 8. Dalaman 9. Malaga 10. Paris.