Regional airports operator reports 23% surge in passenger traffic

UK regional airport operator Regional & City Airports (RCA) has reported a significant rise in passenger numbers over the past year, reflecting continued recovery in demand for regional air travel and the impact of new airline routes and infrastructure investment.

image: RCA

RCA, which owns and operates Bournemouth, Exeter and Norwich airports, said total passenger numbers increased by 23% year-on-year to more than 2.4m in the 12 months to 31 March 2026.

The growth represents an increase from around 2m passengers in the previous year and was recorded across all three airports in the group’s portfolio.

Bournemouth Airport recorded the strongest performance, with passenger numbers rising by 26% to approximately 1.4m, alongside a 21% increase in cargo volumes in what the company described as a record year. Exeter Airport saw passenger traffic grow by 32% to more than 580,000, while Norwich Airport reported a more modest increase of about 5%, reaching roughly 450,000 passengers.

The company attributed the overall rise to a combination of new routes, expanded airline capacity and sustained demand for regional connectivity. Airlines including Jet2, Ryanair, TUI and KLM were cited as key contributors to the increase in traffic across the network.

Investment in infrastructure and facilities also played a role. At Bournemouth, upgrades such as a new arrivals hall and improvements to baggage handling supported passenger growth, while Exeter benefited from the introduction of a daily KLM service to Amsterdam, improving access to international connections.

RCA’s chief executive, Andrew Bell, said the results reflected “continued demand for regional connectivity” despite wider challenges facing the aviation sector, including geopolitical uncertainty.

Industry data indicates that regional airports continue to play a significant economic role, with RCA estimating its airports contribute hundreds of millions of pounds annually to local economies and support thousands of jobs.

The latest figures add to a broader trend of recovery in UK aviation, particularly outside major hub airports, as airlines expand point-to-point services and passengers increasingly use regional departures to avoid congestion at larger airports.