Cargo volumes at Manchester Airports Group (MAG) operated hubs continue to expand in March with Manchester and Stansted seeing double-digit growth and East Midlands up 5.5 per cent.

Manchester Airport grew 14.9 per cent to 9,933 tonnes, while Stansted Airport was up 10.2 per cent to 24,250 tonnes and East Midlands Airport by 5.5 per cent to 30,320 tonnes.

MAG says the growth, particularly at Manchester came from increased long-haul capacity allowing more cargo to leave in the bellyholds of passenger aircraft to destinations like Beijing, Singapore, Houston and San Francisco.

Manchester Airport chief executive officer, Ken O’Toole says San Francisco is a very important route, saying: “It was the latest in a long list of key long haul routes we have added over the past 12 months, ensuring we are connecting the North with key markets across the world.”