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Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline, have celebrated flying its 12 millionth passenger at Liverpool John Lennon Airport since it first commenced operations from there in 1988.

Much has changed at the Airport since Ryanair first commenced operations from Liverpool with just one route – their ever popular Dublin service. Today Ryanair carry as many passengers through Liverpool in 2 months as the Airport handled in total in 1988. Back then, less than 400,000 passengers used the Airport with just a handful of services available. In 2008, LJLA handled 5.4 million passengers and Ryanair currently fly to 44 destinations.

To help celebrate the occasion, Ryanair and the Airport surprised the lucky 12 millionth passenger, as he and his family checked in for their Ryanair flight to Knock. Martin O’Neill, accompanied by Kelley Carroll with daughters Lola and Jeorja, who come from Leeds, received free flights from Ryanair and a bottle of champagne from the Airport.

Celebrating the milestone, Robin Tudor, Head of PR for Airport owners Peel Airports commented,

"Both the Airport and Ryanair are unrecognizable when compared to when the airline first started operations from here. In recent years we have worked closely together to bring the region’s passengers the choice of flights and enhanced airport facilities and at some of the lowest fares, that have helped to make both organisations so popular.
We now look forward to the next 12 million Ryanair passengers".

Ryanair’s Maria Macken added,
"Ryanair is delighted to celebrate its 12 millionth customer at its Liverpool base. Since operations commenced in Liverpool in 1988 with one route to Dublin, Ryanair has continued to grow and now operates forty-four routes to/from Liverpool to top European destinations – including recently-announced winter sunshine routes to Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Tenerife which will commence at the end of October"

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