Why an airport is preparing for a passenger 'surge'

The airport in Hurn employs about 300 people

An airport is predicting a "surge" of passengers in 2025 following the launch of several new routes.

Bournemouth Airport in Dorset said it welcomed its one millionth passenger of 2024 on Monday, after a "bumper summer season".

It is the first time it has reached the milestone figure since 2008.

Airport bosses said the boost was down to an increase in the range and number of flights on offer.

Ryanair based a second aircraft at the site in 2023, adding Carcassonne, Edinburgh and Venice to its list of destinations.

TUI added a second plane over the summer, with an extra 60,000 seats available.

And low-cost airline Jet2 is launching 20 new routes from the Dorset site from February, including the Canary Islands, Spain, Majorca, Turkey and Portugal.

Commercial passenger flights from the airport all-but ended when the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020

More than 840,000 passengers used Bournemouth Airport between April and October - an increase of nearly 103,000 compared to the same period in 2023.

Predicting the boost in January, bosses previously said they were investing more than £5m in new facilities, equipment and staff to cater for the rising numbers.

The plans include expanding the airport's terminal buildings and car park.

Managing director Steve Gill dubbed the airport "an alternative to the busy London hubs".

"More and more people are recognising the convenience and ease of travelling from their local airport, and with the exciting developments under way, we’re looking forward to an even wider range of destinations in the year ahead,” he added.