Regional & City Airports (RCA) has reported a record-breaking summer across its three airports – Bournemouth, Exeter and Norwich – with group-wide passenger numbers rising 23% year-on-year between 1st April and 31st October 2025.

A total of 1.87 million passengers travelled through RCA’s airports over the summer, compared with 1.52 million in the same period last year. The performance marks one of the strongest collective growth periods in RCA’s history, driven by new airline partnerships, investment in infrastructure and outstanding customer satisfaction scores.

Andrew Bell, Chief Executive of Regional & City Airports, said: “This has been an exceptional summer for the RCA, with each of our airports achieving significant milestones – from Bournemouth’s transformational expansion in both passenger and cargo operations, to Exeter’s new global connectivity via KLM, and Norwich’s continued success with Ryanair in its second year of operation from the airport.

“These results reflect our commitment to investing in first-class facilities, supporting our airline partners, and delivering an outstanding passenger experience. The momentum across our airports underlines the growing strength of regional aviation and our vital role in connecting communities and businesses.”

Airport highlights:

Bournemouth Airport

• Recorded its busiest summer ever, with passenger numbers up 28% to 1,084,629 between April and October, an increase of 237,262.
• Growth fuelled by the arrival of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, which launched 16 new routes after making Bournemouth its 12th UK base, alongside established operators TUI and Ryanair.
• Delivered the first phase of a £17 million infrastructure programme, including a new immigration and arrivals hall, expanded car parking, and upgraded baggage facilities.
• Secured planning approval for a future terminal expansion and new transport interchange to accommodate continued growth.
• Recognised nationally for excellent customer satisfaction, praised for friendly staff and smooth passenger processing.
• Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Cargo First division unveiled major new cargo handling facilities, effectively doubling the airport’s freight capacity and consolidating operations into a purpose-built air cargo zone through a £10m investment.
• Cargo volumes hit a record 31,000 tonnes in the 12 months to March 2025, up 70% year-on-year, establishing Bournemouth as the UK’s eighth-largest airfreight airport.

Exeter Airport

• Passenger numbers climbed 28% to 450,112, an increase of 98,462.
• Success driven by the launch of daily KLM flights to Amsterdam, providing access to more than 160 global destinations, and by TUI’s decision to base a second aircraft at Exeter, doubling its summer capacity.
• Named the UK’s best airport for customer experience in an independent national survey.
• A new Loganair service to Manchester has just started following an absence of five years.

Norwich Airport

• Delivered a 5% increase to 332,251 passengers, up 15,822, building on an exceptional 23% rise in summer 2024.
• Continued success with Ryanair, which launched operations in 2024 and has now made Malta and Alicante year-round routes, plus Faro in summer.
• Maintained a strong network with TUI and KLM, with up to four flights daily to Amsterdam.
• Ranked among the UK’s top airports for passenger experience, praised for efficiency, short queues and a relaxed atmosphere.