The Check-in Hall at East Midlands Airport will transform into a hive of sporting activity as young people from Hugglescote Primary School team up with Loughborough MP Andy Reed and Airport mascot Rascal Rabbit to take part in some new age curling and boccia. These are two of the disability sports that are included in the competition that takes place over two days in June, Friday 20th and Sunday 22nd.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager for East Midlands Airport said, "We are delighted to be supporting the Leicester-Shire and Rutland Youth Games for the fifth year running. The Airport recognises the valuable contribution it can make to the community by getting involved in projects like this. The Games is an excellent example of sport for all, getting young people involved in fun but competitive physical activity, which is becoming increasingly more important in today's society".

MP Andy Reed, Chairman of Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport said, This year is the 10th Anniversary for Leicester-Shire and Rutland Youth Games. Thank you to our sponsors East Midlands Airport for their continued support and to our sporting partners who ensure the event is a memorable occasion for so many of our young people. I look forward to a fantastic two days of competition in June .

Those interested in taking part in the Youth Games either as a participant, coach or volunteer, should contact their district sports development officer for further details. Team trials are already underway. Contact numbers can be found at www.lrsport.org.uk

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

The Airport s extensive choice of destinations is helping to drive the impressive passenger growth. Four new routes have been introduced in 2008 including, Goa with First Choice, the Isle of Man with Manx2, Palma with easyjet and Warsaw with bmibaby, making March the 24th month of consecutive growth. The Airport s passenger traffic grew by 11.5% in March with 460,552 passengers travelling to and from the Airport.

The Easter period provided a seasonal boost to the numbers departing and arriving from East Midlands Airport, with a remarkable 95,000 people travelling over the Easter weekend, a rise of 7% compared to 2007.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, EMA said, The significant increases demonstrate that passengers are embracing the destinations and routes available from East Midlands Airport.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

A Traffic Management System will be in operation on the road adjacent to the Airport and temporary traffic lights will operate at the Melbourne Lane Junction onto the A453 on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April to minimise delays (Between 07.00 and 19.00).

Major roads and motorways leading to this venue are not affected by the traffic management system however are likely to be busy.

The traffic plan:
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th April (Between 07.00 and 19.00)

Traffic using the C8214 Castle Donington road approach to permanent traffic signals at the A453 junction will not be able to turn right towards Isley Walton.

Traffic requiring access to Isley Walton should turn left at this junction and continue east to the DHL roundabout and then follow the A453 to Isley Walton.

There will be temporary traffic signals between 07.00 and 19.00 at the Melbourne Lane junction to the A453.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

The four turbines are expected to produce up to 225kw each, which is enough to power 503 houses per annum and result in an estimated carbon saving of 850 tonnes per annum.

The location of each turbine has been carefully selected in order to ensure that the turbines are well screened with little impact on local residents. The four turbines will be located more than 800 metres from the closest property and will not be audible from any residential property.

The turbines, which will generate 10% of the Airport s energy, are an important step in the Airports commitment to make its ground operations carbon neutral by 2012. Over the last 10 years the Airport has invested more than £3 million in environmental initiatives and monitoring, from emission control to waste management and surface water management.

In 2007 the Airport demonstrated it s commitment to green energy by extending the departure lounge with a new green pier costing £6 million. The new pier with a high level walkway from the existing departure lounge was constructed to cater for increasing passenger numbers. The energy efficient pier obtains heat from 27 boreholes, each 100 metres deep, this is five times more efficient than other heating sources. In addition the toilets use rain water for flushing and all lighting is natural or low energy, reducing the impact on the environment.

Penny Coates, East Midlands Airport Managing Director said: We are delighted with the news. The four turbines are a step closer to delivering on the promise we made in our Master Plan. In addition to the four wind turbines, we have increased the proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources and introduced a number of environmental measures such as our green pier to reduce the impact on the environment. The turbines are another very substantial investment in environmental management by the Airport.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Against the national trend, the Airport experienced a significant increase in passengers who benefited from the destinations operated by low-cost carriers Ryanair, easyJet and bmibaby. The Airport has also seen increased capacity on Thomson, Thomas Cook and XL.com routes as a result of extra demand from customers. Considerable growth has also been experienced in passengers travelling to Egypt and EMA s latest long-haul winter sun destination Goa with First Choice.

Also in February 2008:

• International scheduled traffic grew 18.7%
• Domestic scheduled traffic grew by 12.6%
• Charter traffic grew by 20.5%

These figures account for all business and leisure traffic at EMA although they benefit from the additional leap year day.

Easter is anticipated to be another bumper holiday period for the UK s 13th largest passenger airport. Some 95,000 people will be travelling through EMA between Thursday 19th March and Tuesday 25th March, a rise of nearly 7% compared to Easter last year.

Good Friday is predicted to be the busiest day for the Airport with over 18,000 passengers jetting off for Easter. Dublin, Alicante, Tenerife, Glasgow and Edinburgh are expected to be the most popular destinations during this period.

Passengers are reminded that the one-bag restriction and rules governing liquids are still in force and are urged to check the security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before they leave for the Airport.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing and Communications, East Midlands Airport, said: Goa is the Airport s first Indian Ocean destination and we have had an overwhelming response to the introduction of this service. To only have ten seats left for the first month of service is a great achievement for a new destination. We are delighted that people from the region are keen to sample this unique location.

Goa is a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, covering 3,702 square kilometres, the island is a haven for explorers, adventurers and those looking for a break with a difference and is the latest destination in the Airport s growing list of long haul holidays.

Caroline Plant added: "Goa is a genuine jewel in the Indian Ocean and an incredible place in which to enjoy a winter holiday. The new service is incredibly popular and holidaymakers will have to act swiftly if they are to book their place to fly from EMA and enjoy everything that Goa has to offer.

Blessed with natural harbours, wide rivers and plentiful sunny beaches, Goa is aptly hailed as the Pearl of the Orient.

First Choice Holidays provide a weekly service to Goa from EMA until 17 April, offering 7 and 14 night breaks to this unique part of the world. First Choice have recently announced a full winter programme for 2008/09, starting on 4th November 2008.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Richard, also known as the Milky Bar Kid, retired in 2003 after earning his place in the TT history books after winning the TT in 2002 with three Manx Grand Prix races and one Ulster Grand Prix. The Isle of Man, which lies in the Irish Sea, between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, is famed for its TT races, attracting thousands of fans to the island every year.

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing and Communications, East Midlands Airport, said: "We are anticipating a huge demand for the Isle of Man especially around the Islands major sporting event in May. The launch of this new service will provide motorsport fans and holidaymakers from the region with a convenient daily service.

James Filleul, Communications Director for Manx2.com said: Our research has shown a significant demand for flights to the Isle of Man from the East Midlands region, from both business and leisure customers. Equally, East Midlands airport is in an excellent location for Manx customers, and with low fares and frequent flights, we think this is going to be a very successful route .

Vikki Wellington, the Marketing and Media Sales Manager of Donington Park Leisure Limited said "We are delighted that this route is opening up, as the Isle of Man and Donington Park each have a tremendous pedigree in motorcycle racing - the TT is legend while we are the home of the British round of the World MotoGP Championship and stage both British and World Superbikes and the Motocross of Nations. By using this service, we can enjoy a two way service for bike fans to travel to all of these top events, easing the access from the Island to our circuit, while providing a convenient link from the East Midlands to both the TT and the Manx Grand Prix."

Although motorcycle racing sends crowds of people heading to the Isle of Man, the island is much more than a racetrack. The 33 mile long island, which covers an area of 227 square miles, is packed with coastal towns, ports and resorts and, with 40 per cent of the island uninhabited, an abundance of countryside.

The service is also expected to provide two-way traffic, with Isle of Man residents heading to East Midlands Airport to take advantage of the region s retail, leisure and education facilities and also recognising that EMA is an ideal connection to over a hundred destinations worldwide.

Manx2.com is taking bookings for the flight through its website, www.manx2.com or by phoning 0871 200 0440

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

The 15-player team consists of current students, Loughborough graduates and regional players and is currently at the top of the Co-operative Netball Superleague.

To celebrate the new sponsorship deal, East Midlands Airport Managing Director Penny Coates will be leading a team of EMA staff in a special training session before one of the team s high profile games on Monday 25 February, 2008.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said: This is a really exciting opportunity and we re thrilled to be sponsoring Loughborough Lightning. The team is the pinnacle of the netball programme and we are looking forward to working with the University and supporting its commitment to developing elite netball. Support for local initiatives has long been a feature of our work and everyone at EMA wishes Lightning the very best of luck.

Loughborough is home to one of England Netball s National Netball Centres and plays host to a comprehensive netball development programme for both students and non-students.

Loughborough University, with support from East Midlands Netball, owns the Loughborough Lightning franchise which is based at the University. The franchise was a completely new venture for the start of the Co-operative Netball Superleague and shows the University s commitment to developing elite netball.

The team is looking to use the comprehensive training facilities and support structure at the University to attract the best players to the East Midlands and grow the best talent in the region. Lightning s success on court and off-court can be seen in a 40 per cent growth in home crowds and the addition of a National Talent League team to the club structure.
Doors to tonight s game will open at 5pm. The game will be covered by Sky Sports and the 90 minute programme will be shown on Sky Sports 3 at 5pm, 9pm and midnight on Thursday 28 February 2008.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

This increase follows the impressive trend of increased passenger figures throughout 2007, which saw an annual increase of 14.5%.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said: We are pleased to report another successful month of passenger growth. These figures indicate that the Airport is meeting the needs of passengers across the region and beyond. This is a tremendous start to the year and we are hopeful that the momentum will continue throughout 2008 .

The Airport has started 2008 by extending its long haul portfolio with the introduction of Goa with First Choice Holidays; the Airports first Indian Ocean destination. EMA launched the new route in February as a three month programme for winter 2008. First Choice has since increased the programme to a full season for winter 2008/09 starting 4th November 2008.

The Airport has also enhanced its services to popular European destinations including Cologne with bmi regional, Palma with easyJet and Warsaw with bmibaby.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

bmi regionals new route from EMA to Cologne will operate daily, except Saturday, to the historic German city, providing passengers from the Midlands with a direct link to one of Europe s most metropolitan areas all year round.

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing & Communications, East Midlands Airport said: "Cologne and Bonn are both historical cities and excellent places from which to explore the rest of the Rhineland and Germany. The direct flights will also prove popular with business users, whether they are conducting business in Cologne, Bonn or elsewhere in Germany. We are anticipating a huge demand for these flights.

bmi regional has been named the UK's most punctual airline by the Civil Aviation Authority, offering passengers great service at attractive prices. All passengers travelling on the new service will be entitled to use the fast-track facility through security at East Midlands Airport.

Seats are on sale at www.flybmi.com with fares starting from £49 each way.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

December also saw passenger numbers rise for the 12th successive month with 377,929 travellers arriving and departing, an increase of 16.7% over the same month in 2006.

In 2007, EMA enhanced its portfolio of European destinations with five new routes from Ryanair - Cork, Tenerife, Belfast, Poznan and Alicante, and the arrival of Scandinavian airline Sterling operating to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. The Airport also saw long-haul services increase with the launch of an Airtours charter programme to Jamaica.

Commenting on the Airport s passenger performance, Penny Coates, Managing Director, said: This record increase in passengers demonstrates the demand in the region for local access to air travel. I m delighted with the public response to the wide choice of destinations we re now able to offer and to the investment we ve made in improving the passenger experience. The challenge for us is to build on this fantastic performance and to continue to deliver the services the region deserves.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

It is expected that approximately 170,000 people will be travelling to and from the Airport between Wednesday 19th December 2007 and Wednesday 2nd January 2007, a rise of 13% compared to the same time last year.

Friday 21st December is predicted to be the busiest day for the Airport with over 8,800 passengers jetting off for the big getaway.

On Christmas Day, the Airport will have 8 arrivals and 9 departures to Alicante, Malta, Copenhagen, Oslo and new route Islamabad via Sharjah.

The ever popular city break destination Dublin and winter sunshine favourite Alicante will attract the majority of travellers looking to get away at this time of year,closely followed by Glasgow, Malaga and Tenerife.

Penny Coates, Managing Director said, Christmas and New Year has always been a popular time of the year to escape the cold winter weather and see friends and family. The winter flight programme is full of great winter sun destinations, city breaks and ski routes including new winter routes Goa and Innsbruck. This year we are expecting over 20,000 more passengers than Christmas 2006.

Security restrictions at East Midlands Airport are still in place and the Airport reminds people to check the security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before travelling.

Passengers carrying presents in their hand luggage are advised to leave them unwrapped as they may need to be inspected as part of the security screening process.

For more information contact:

EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com


Notes for editors:

• Manx2.com operators use nineteen seat aircraft on routes between the Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, Belfast, Gloucester (M5), East Midlands, Jersey and Blackpool.
• Winners of five prestigious travel awards in 2007, including Best UK Airport at the British Travel Awards and World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport at the World Travel Awards, East Midlands Airport are proud to be the region's gateway, offering over 100 European and long haul destinations.
• In 2006 East Midlands Airport was the first UK Airport to commit to making its site operations carbon neutral by 2012
• The Airport is planning to generate 10% of its electricity by installing 4 wind turbines on site the first Airport in the UK to propose this type of renewable energy
• East Midlands Airport was the first airport in Europe to offer WebTrak, an online facility to view aircraft operation in the airports airspace
• East Midlands Airport has successfully retained ISO14001 for the past 4 years, the only airport in the UK to do so.

Scheduled destinations enjoyed an18.1% increase for November to the same period last year, due to the increase in destinations from the major low cost carriers; Ryanair, easyJet and BMI Baby.

So far this year (January to November), the Airport has handled 5,036,466 passengers compared to 4,401,014 in the same period last year, a rise of 14.4%.

With the festive getaway starting next week, passengers can expect some festive fun at the Airport with carol concerts and Christmas Fairies on hand to help with last minute holiday gifts as well as a chance to win a fantastic holiday.

John Doherty, Airport Manager, East Midlands Airport said December is a great time to travel from the Airport as we get into the festive spirit with a Christmas holiday competition as well as our annual carol concert, which is ran by the Airport Chaplaincy team.

A breakdown of passenger figures for November 07 v November 06 is detailed below.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website www.eastmidlandsairport.com

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition.

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including nine organisations from Derbyshire and Staffordshire:

Staffordshire

Chair of the Church Gresley Disability Group, Mayla Birch said
I can t wait to tell our members who use wheelchairs the good news. This special bowls wheelchair will mean that members can actually play and fully enjoy the game.

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills.

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website.

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition.

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including five organisations from Leicestershire:

Chair of Barsby Village Charity, John Gordon-Saker said
This is fabulous news for everyone involved. £1,000 will cover the costs of the planting scheme and ensure that the area will be a credit to the village

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills.

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website.

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition.

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including two organisations from Nottinghamshire:

Chair of 1359 Air Training Cadets, June Dennis said
The cadets will be thrilled to get the flight simulator equipment. It will be great for training as well as good fun to use.

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills.

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Commencing 11 February 2008, the direct service will fly six-times a week from the regions favourite airport into Germany, replacing the Cologne route that used to be served by easyJet.

One of the oldest as well as the fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne has a vibrant art scene, hosting annual carnivals and Europe s largest comedy festival.

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director, East Midlands Airport, said
"We are delighted that bmi regional has chosen to start their Cologne route from East Midlands in February. This is an important destination for the business traveller in the region and I am sure that it will also be a very popular destination for the leisure traveller alike."

Passengers travelling from East Midlands Airport with bmi will also be able to travel onwards to other German cities, including Hamburg, on the flights of bmi regional s Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa.

Seats are on sale today at www.flybmi.com

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

So far this year (January to October), the Airport has handled 4,662, 987 passengers compared to 4,077, 422 in the same period last year, a rise of 14.4%.

Last month, the Airport handled a total of 475,441 travellers, up 6.2% from the same period last year.

Over 26,000 passengers flew to the Airport s top destination; Dublin in October with Palma continuing to be in the top three hot spots for EMA travellers.

A breakdown of passenger figures for October 07 v October 06 is detailed below:

Recent destinations announced from East Midlands Airport include BMI Baby s new routes to Nice from 1st April 2008, with additional destinations to Gdansk and Warsaw, which also start for the summer season.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

The airline introduced a new route to Nice for next summer plus brand new services to Gdansk and Warsaw in Poland.

The new service to Nice, currently un-served from the airport, will commence on the 1st April 2008. The glamorous French destination will prove popular with leisure and business travellers and those wanting to access the beautiful French Riviera. Flights will operate three times a week on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with fares starting from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Flights to Gdansk will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with Warsaw flights taking to the air on Monday s, Wednesday s, Friday s and Sunday s. Fares start from just £21.99 one way including taxes and charges.

In total the Castle Donington based airline will operate to 14 destinations from East Midlands Airport for the summer season including: Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast (Intl), Edinburgh, Faro, Glasgow (Intl), Jersey, Malaga, Palma, Paris (CDG) and Prague.

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director,East Midlands Airport, said:
"I am thrilled that our local based carrier has expanded their summer 2008 portfolio from EMA. The introduction of Nice, as well as Gdansk and Warsaw will be popular destinations for next summer for the region's travellers, offering even more choice from their local airport."

Flights have gone on sale today at www.bmibaby.com

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

Voted for by an independent expert panel, the accolade recognises how we work with and support the Travel Trade, how we encourage growth and support charter operators, how well we process passengers through our terminal and how we are dealing with growth in an environmentally responsible way.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said
"2007 has been an incredible year for EMA, winning 'Best UK Airport' this week is an amazing example of how well we are perceived by our peers in the Travel Industry. We are very proud of the titles we have been awarded this year which recognise the hard work and dedication of our great team.

In January this year the Airport was awarded Best Regional Airport at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards and in the same week won World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport at the World Travel Awards. This, in addition to Best UK Regional Airport at the Travel Bulletin 2007 Star Awards and Best Airport at the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) Awards 2007, brings the total to a fantastic five!

For more information contact:

EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

The Airport handled a total of 483,077 passengers in May 2007, an increase of 8.6% on May 2006 (444,631). This is the fifth consecutive month showing continued growth at East Midlands Airport.

Palma was the regions favourite European getaway destination in May, closely followed by Alicante, Dublin and Malaga.

There were increases in May in domestic and international scheduled travel sectors, with an increase in all travel sectors year to date. A breakdown of passenger figures for May 07 v May 06 is detailed below:

The Airport is looking forward to yet another a busy summer season with new routes in May including Cuba and the Dominican Republic as well as big changes to the terminal building now complete. The raised level pier and walkway from the existing departure lounge provides EMA customers with six additional gates to aircraft as well as a variety of new retail shops.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said,
It is encouraging to see the continued growth of passengers choosing to fly from EMA, particularly to new routes such as Cuba as well as our popular destination to Palma. Our improvements made to the terminal over the winter period are having a positive effect on our customers to help them unwind, relax and shop before they travel .

*Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics Size of UK Airports 2006 , published 15 March 2007. Measured Jan-Dec 2006, equal with Liverpool John Lennon Airport

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

;

Passenger numbers at East Midlands Airport this year have continued to soar for the ninth consecutive month.

So far this year (January to September), the Airport has handled 4,187,546 passengers compared to 3,629,643 in the same period last year, a rise of 15.4%.

Last month, the Airport handled a total of 536,095 travellers, up 7.6% from September 2006.

Palma continues to be the favourite European getaway destination, closely followed by Alicante, Dublin and Malaga with over 110,000 passengers flying to these destinations.

Commenting on these figures, Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said
The figures released by the CAA show the fruits of our hard work in offering our customers a wide portfolio of destinations from their local airport. The August bank holiday alone saw one of the highest year-on-year passenger increases in the country.

The growth is expected to continue with the launch of the Airport s newest route to Pakistan last week with new airline UK International Airlines (UKIA) and the Airport is looking forward to welcoming Sterling, Scandinavia s first low-cost airline, when their inaugural flight from Copenhagen arrives on Thursday 25th October, followed by new services from Oslo and Stockholm.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

With the assistance of local performers from The Dhol Enforcement Agency based in Leicester, the terminal will become a vibrant and lively atmosphere for passengers travelling on the flight as well as friends and family say goodbye.

Among the hustle and bustle of the inaugural flight will be Penny Coates, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport This announcement is a fantastic endorsement of our first class facilities here at the Airport and is a real coup for everyone involved in developing this link to a new country. The service has generated positive interest so far and we are sure the people of the East Midlands region and beyond will make good use of this route .

The full service commences twice weekly flights to Islamabad via Sharjah (near Dubai) this Friday and will depart each Tuesday and Friday.

The flights will enable customers to visit their ancestral homes, do business, make connections with other flights, or simply travel for leisure. Passengers from all over the UK are expected to use East Midlands Airport, as its central location makes it a convenient option for travellers wherever they reside.

Mir Zaman, Managing Director of UK International Airlines said, We re delighted to offer this brand new service from East Midlands Airport. UKIA offers all British Asians and other British communities their own airline with a service they duly deserve. We believe it will appeal to a diverse audience travelling to the region for many reasons, and we know from extensive research that it will appeal to people from the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire .

He continued, We are employing staff from within the community and will be providing over 200 jobs in the first year alone in the Midlands and Yorkshire regions. These are exciting times not only for the Airport for having its own long haul schedule service to UAE and Pakistan, but also for passengers and UKIA alike. This confirms UKIA s commitment to the markets it serves. We believe in connecting communities and blending cultures and what better way to do this than from East Midlands Airport!

Seats are still on sale now through UKIA-appointed general sales agents across the UK. For more information please visit www.ukinternationalairlines.com.

For more information contact:

EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com

In its fourteenth year, the World Travel Awards acknowledge and celebrates those organisations that have made the greatest contribution to global tourism and those who are driving the industry to greater heights and innovation.

For the first time in its history the Green Awards were voted independently by over 165,000 travel agencies and professionals in over 200 countries worldwide. Airports in the same category as East Midlands Airport were Berlin Tegal, Indianapolis, Kansai International and Narita International.

The Airport was recognised for their below initiatives:

• Becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
• Their international environmental accreditation to ISO14001.
• New environmentally friendly pier which contains ground heating pumps, wind catchers and water recycling facilities.
• Its plans to install wind turbines on site to generate 10% of on site electricity.

The award comes just a day after the Airport won UK Best Regional Airport at the Travel Bulletin Awards in London.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said
This is the second award we have won in the past 24 hours and I am absolutely thrilled that our hard work and dedication has been widely acknowledged by the World Travel Awards. Winning World s Leading Eco Friendly Airport not only puts us on the map with the world but it also highlights the East Midlands region as a whole and it is something that everyone should be proud of.

Neil Robinson, Environment and Safeguarding Manager said
Winning this award is wonderful recognition of our environment work that we have completed since publishing our Master Plan in 2006. We have already introduced a number of new environmental measures as well as our green pier, such as our on site recycling facility, our recent announcement to install four wind turbines on the airport site and the increased proportion of renewable energy the airport uses.

Wind catchers on the roof of the new pier as well as the use of natural light and low energy light fitments are just some of the environmentally components that are being used by passengers at the Airport. In addition to these carbon friendly initiatives, the toilets within the building use rain water (grey water) for flushing and the hand dryers use 83% lower electricity to help reduce the impact on the environment.

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com