Statistics for the top 20 departures in the UK and Ireland during September 2007 were revealed by
Cheapflights.co.uk. The top 20 departures make up almost 90% of all September searches, whilst regional airports make up 43%.

Searches for departures from London airports make up over a fifth of the figures (22%). Conversely, individual searches on London airports reveal that Heathrow is not the airport leading the statistics – Manchester ranks as the highest for departures making up 13% of the searches.

Heathrow positions itself at the top of the five individual London airports taking up 10% of September figures. The rest of the London airports, in order from highest to lowest, are Gatwick, Stansted, London City and Luton.

Newcastle makes up 3% of the statistics, prevailing over regional airports that have higher populations such as Leeds, Bristol, and Edinburgh. Searches for Newcastle departures are also larger than those for Stansted, London City and Luton.

Francesca Ecsery, General Manager of Cheapflights.co.uk, comments “When combined, London airports are the most popular, however Manchester sets the benchmark for regional airports by topping Heathrow as the most searched for departure point in September. Cheapflights.co.uk believes where possible travellers should make use of the regional airports and reap the benefits of less queuing and congestion”.