A chamber of commerce has described flights from Exeter to Manchester as essential for regional economic growth and the business community. Budget carrier Loganair launched the route from the South West transport hub last year and now operates a daily schedule to the North West city. The airline also provides services from Exeter to Edinburgh, Jersey, and Newcastle.
Strengthening Regional Connectivity
Devon Chamber stated that the flight route to Manchester, which returned after a five-year hiatus, would reinforce Exeter's status as a key regional transport hub and enable local businesses to stay connected with the UK and Europe. A spokesperson for Devon Chamber commented: "It cements the airport’s role in supporting regional connectivity, ensuring businesses across the South West can access key markets efficiently."
The spokesperson added: "With a flight time of just an hour – compared with more than four hours by rail or road – the route is helping the region’s businesses connect and be more productive."
Passenger Growth and Other Routes
The Manchester service is also driving further growth at Exeter Airport, where passenger numbers surged by 32% in the year to March, reaching 582,000, amid rising demand for regional connectivity. Central to this growth has been the success of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ daily Exeter to Amsterdam service, which recently marked its first anniversary. This route has unlocked worldwide connections for business and leisure travellers through Amsterdam Schiphol, a major international hub.
According to Devon Chamber, the Amsterdam route has also proven effective in attracting inbound international visitors to the South West, particularly from the Netherlands and Germany. Exeter Airport additionally offers a year-round service to Dublin operated by Aer Lingus, with onward connections to North America and US immigration pre-clearance in Ireland.
Aer Lingus also runs summer flights from Exeter to Belfast, while Aurigny provides year-round links to Guernsey and Skybus offers seasonal direct services to the Isles of Scilly. TUI and Ryanair form the backbone of the airport’s international leisure programme, including year-round flights to Alicante, Malaga, and Tenerife, along with an extensive summer schedule to destinations across the Greek Islands, Balearics, Canary Islands, and Turkey.
Economic Impact
Exeter is part of UK regional airport operator Regional & City Airports (RCA), which also owns and operates Bournemouth Airport and Norwich Airport. An independent economic impact assessment commissioned by RCA found that Exeter Airport plays a vital role in the regional economy, contributing £54 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) and supporting around 780 jobs locally. The airport directly employs approximately 230 people.
