The UK’s 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 April and October.
In total, 1.87 million passengers travelled through RCA’s airports over the summer, compared with 1.52 million during 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 RCA, said the summer period was “exceptional” for all three airports across the portfolio.
“Each of our airports achieved significant milestones,” he said. “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.”
Bournemouth Airport recorded its busiest summer ever, with passenger numbers up 28% to more than 1 million, an increase of 237,262 over the same period last year.
Growth was 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.
Bournemouth Airport delivered the first phase of a £17 million infrastructure programme, including a new immigration and arrivals hall, expanded car parking, and upgraded baggage facilities.
It also secured planning approval for a future terminal expansion and new transport interchange to accommodate continued growth.
Exeter Airport’s passenger numbers climbed 28% to 450,112, an increase of 98,462. Success was 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.
Norwich Airport delivered a 5% increase to 332,251 passengers, up 15,822, building on a 23% rise in summer 2024.
Its performance was driven by continued success with Ryanair, which launched operations from Norwich in 2024, and which has now made Malta and Alicante year-round routes, plus Faro in summer.
Norwich also maintained a strong network with TUI and KLM, with up to four flights daily to Amsterdam.