GLASGOW Airport achieved a 25 per cent year-on-year leap in international passenger numbers in February, boosted by demand for Eastern European routes and Celtic's Europa League clash with Inter Milan, the latest statistics have shown.
The airport's overall passenger numbers in February, at 510,665, were up by 13.9 per cent on the same month of last year.
Its international passenger numbers in February totalled 217,579, up from 174,236 in the same month of last year.
Glasgow Airport said that this year-on-year jump was largely the result of continued demand for the range of Eastern European routes operated by Ryanair and Wizz Air.
An airport spokesman also cited another strong month in terms of demand for Emirates' long-haul services to and from Glasgow.
He said that Emirates' services generated about 35,000 passengers for Glasgow Airport in February.
Glasgow Airport saw 293,086 domestic passengers pass through its doors last month, 6.9 per cent more than in February 2014.
Managing director Amanda McMillan said: "Our success in securing new routes and attracting airlines to Glasgow has translated into sustained passenger growth, and we could not have asked for a better start to the year."
Glasgow Airport has now enjoyed year-on-year growth in passenger numbers in 24 consecutive months.
Edinburgh Airport said yesterday that its passenger numbers in February were, at 657,386, up by 8.2 per cent on the same month of last year.
International passenger numbers in February were up by 6.5 per cent year-on-year at 286,479. Edinburgh Airport's domestic passenger numbers last month were, at 370,907, up by 9.5 per cent on February 2014.
The airport cited a boost from an influx of rugby fans from Italy and Wales for RBS Six Nations games.
Chief executive Gordon Dewar said that Qatar Airlines, which launched flights from the airport last May, had delivered in excess of 7,000 more passengers than Edinburgh had last February.
Aberdeen International Airport said its passenger numbers in February, at 253,004, were down by 0.9 per cent on the same month of last year.
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