ALMOST one million passengers passed through Birmingham Airport last month, making it the busiest June in the airport’s history.

A record 988,916 people chose the Midlands airport throughout June, beating its previous record for the month, set in June 2014 by 2.8 per cent

Long-haul traffic experienced significant growth in June, up 20 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Paul Kehoe, Birmingham Airport’s chief executive, said: “Throughout 2015, we’ve seen passenger records smashed almost on a monthly basis and June was no different. It was particularly pleasing to see long-haul traffic increase by 20 per cent too, compared to the same period last year; a clear sign that demand continues to grow in this market.

“We’re expecting our long-haul traffic to increase further in the coming months, following the recent launch of direct charter flights to Beijing, which will operate throughout the summer with Hainan Airlines. The route is proving to be incredibly popular with inbound and outbound passengers, offering plenty of encouragement for the future.”

June’s passenger numbers mean the airport has now achieved five record-breaking months in 2015, as January, March, April and May also saw record numbers pass through the terminal.