Several of Britain’s smaller airports are struggling to recover from the changes wrought to air travel by the pandemic, with some recording passenger numbers down by nearly 50 per cent or more on pre-Covid-19 levels. Analysis of Civil Aviation Authority data by The Times reveals large falls in passenger numbers at smaller airports last year compared with 2019, despite them often being enjoyed by travellers for their hassle-free environments relative to larger hubs. East Midlands, which has become pre-eminent as a freight hub, has seen passenger numbers fall by 15 per cent to 3.9 million. AdvertisementAirportsUK, the sector’s trade body, admitted there had been a post-pandemic two-tier recovery but said smaller airports remained “viable and competitive”. Passenger numbers at Edinburgh were up 15 per cent at 16.9 million while Birmingham was 8 per cent ahead at 13.6 million.

Source: The Times February 22, 2026 23:33 UTC