Bournemouth and Exeter Airport experienced a surge in passengers over the summer, bolstered by the expansion of TUI and Ryanair flights, new figures show.

Regional and City Airports (RCA) Group, which manages the transport hubs along with Norwich Airport, recorded almost 1.5 million travellers between April and October, up from 1.31 million in the same period last year.

The summer growth builds on a 15% rise in passenger numbers reported for the year ending March 2024, RCA said.

Bournemouth Airport led the increase with 840,210 travellers - a 14% rise compared to the previous year. RCA said as a result the airport is expected to surpass one million passengers in 2024, a milestone not achieved since 2008. Contributing factors include TUI’s expansion, which added a second aircraft and 60,000 extra seats this summer, as well as the continued growth of Ryanair's 20-route network.

RCA is currently investing tens of millions of pounds in Bournemouth Airport's infrastructure to prepare for Jet2 and Jet2holidays’ new operations. Starting in February 2025, Jet2 will launch 20 routes from Bournemouth with two aircraft, followed by a third aircraft for summer 2026.

Exeter Airport also experienced positive growth, recording a 5% rise to 338,000 passengers, boosted by a new Ryanair service to Palma. Exeter's passenger growth is expected to accelerate next year with the introduction of a second TUI aircraft and 80,000 more seats, along with new routes and increased frequency on a number of services.

Andrew Bell, chief executive of RCA, said: “These results highlight the strength of regional airports in providing essential choice and convenience to their local communities. Our airports have continued to innovate and adapt, and this growth reflects the dedication and resilience of our teams. We’re proud to see such strong performance across the board.”

In addition to its airports, RCA holds a management contract for Solent Airport and owns XLR Executive Jet Centres at Birmingham, Bournemouth, Exeter, and Liverpool.