By the end of October more than 400,000 extra passengers had passed through the airport in 2016 and it was the 21st consecutive month that number had risen. Tony McDonough reports.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) says it has handled 4.2m passengers so far this year – a rise of 12% on last year.

By the end of October more than 400,000 extra passengers had passed through the airport in 2016 and it was the 21st consecutive month that number had risen.

This makes LJLA one of the fastest-growing airports in the UK.

These latest figures reflect the continued upsurge in business at the airport following the addition of a number of new routes.

Further growth in passenger volumes is expected next year too, following announcements in recent months from Blue Air, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Thomson and First Choice who are all expanding their Liverpool operations.

2016 is set to be the airport’s best year in terms of passenger numbers since 2011.

A spokesman for LJLA said: “This year has seen more new operators, more new destinations and the completion of a variety of terminal developments that have improved the customer experience, helping to make Liverpool the faster, easier, friendlier airport of choice for passengers from across the North West and North Wales.”