Manchester Airports Group

Manchester Airports Group, known as MAG, is the largest airport group in the United Kingdom. It owns and operates three UK airports: Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands.

The group also owns CAVU, a digital travel services business. The company lists further parts of the group, including MAG Property and MAG IT. MAG says it served 61.3 million passengers in its 2024 financial year. In that year 58 airlines flew from its airports to 261 destinations. The group says it added 10.6 billion pounds to the UK economy.

Cargo is a major part of the business. MAG has large cargo facilities at all three airports, and East Midlands is the biggest dedicated freight operation in the UK. In 2022 and 2023 its airports handled more than 700,000 tonnes of air cargo on more than 40,000 dedicated freighter flights. Having three gateways lets airline and freight forwarding customers choose the most practical entry point for markets that range from automotive to oil and gas, fresh produce and pharmaceuticals.

MAG offers vetting services for the people who work at airports. Its in-house team carries out airside background checks, including identity document checks, face-to-face security interviews, five-year reference checks and gap checks. Criminal record checks and security awareness training are optional. The service reports an average turnaround of 15 calendar days and a 96 percent first-time success rate. Retail and food businesses opening at Manchester Airport have used it.

The group works with airlines, commercial developers, retailers and suppliers. The company has sections on aviation opportunities, commercial development, procurement and contracts, and retail opportunities. It also publishes sustainability plans, corporate social responsibility reports, an equality and diversity strategy and investor information.

Services

• Airport ownership and operation
• Passenger and general aviation
• Air cargo services
• Airside background vetting
• Digital travel services through CAVU
• Property and development
• Aviation IT
• Retail opportunities at airports