MAG Airport

What MAG Airport does

MAG Airport (Manchester Airports Group) is the UK's largest airport group, directly employing 7,000 people and supporting more than 40,000 supply-chain jobs. The group owns and operates three UK airports — Manchester (the only UK airport outside London with two full-length runways), London Stansted (the only major UK airport with spare runway capacity), and East Midlands (home to the UK's largest dedicated freight operation, handling over 700,000 tonnes of cargo annually). In FY24, MAG served 61.3 million passengers across 261 destinations through 58 airlines and contributed £10.6bn to the UK economy.

The group operates a platform-plus-modules architecture. The three airports are the core infrastructure, generating aeronautical revenue (landing fees, passenger fees, parking charges) from airlines, plus non-aeronautical revenue from car parking, retail/F&B concessions (Mulberry, San Carlo, Itsu, WHSmith, Joe & the Juice, across 355,000+ sq ft of retail), and commercial property. Adjacent subsidiaries — CAVU (digital travel services built on the propel™ technology platform, 1903 Lounge and Escape Lounges brands, Revenue Management and Digital Marketing tools, global distribution), MAG IT (secure IT services for airport-based clients), MAG Property (£603m portfolio across 11.9m sq ft), and MAG Vetting Services — extend the platform both internally and to third-party airports. Airport City Manchester, a £1bn JV with BCEG and Greater Manchester Pension Fund, is developing 5 million sq ft of adjacent office, hotel, advanced manufacturing, and logistics space.

MAG is privately held under a unique public-private ownership structure: Manchester City Council (35.5%), IFM Global Infrastructure Fund (35.5%), and nine other Greater Manchester local authorities (29%). The group is debt-funded in part through a £360m 18-year bond issued in September 2023 (oversubscribed at ~£1.4bn) and has executed a £1.3bn Manchester Airport transformation programme. CAVU is actively expanding internationally via lounge licensing (15+ US airports) and pursuing equity/management-contract opportunities in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Middle East, and Australasia.

Name

MAG Airport

Legal name

MAG Airport Ltd.

Website

https://magairports.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

MAG Airport (Manchester Airports Group) is the UK's largest privately-held airport group, operating Manchester, London Stansted, and East Midlands airports — serving 61.3 million passengers and handling over 700,000 tonnes of cargo annually, alongside CAVU digital travel services, MAG Property, and MAG IT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airport Operations

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Aviation Infrastructure Agencies (Public Airports, Airfield Ops, Ground Access) (BPAIALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Airline Distribution & Merchandising Platforms (Direct/B2B) (THALABAC), Truck Terminals & Transportation Facilities Brokerage (BPAJACAG)

Keywords

• Airport operations
• Aviation infrastructure
• Cargo handling
• Airport retail
• Passenger services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Airport Charges: MAG generates revenue through aeronautical charges including landing fees, passenger fees, and parking charges from airlines operating at its three airports.
2. Retail and Commercial Real Estate: MAG Property manages 11.9 million sq ft of commercial property including offices, terminals, hangars, warehouses and hotels. Revenue comes from retail space rentals (355,000+ sq ft) hosting brands like Mulberry, San Carlo, Itsu, WHSmith, and Joe & the Juice.
3. Cargo Handling Services: MAG airports handle air cargo operations, with East Midlands being the largest dedicated freight operation in the UK. In 2022/23 MAG airports handled more than 700,000 tonnes of air cargo on more than 40,000 dedicated freighter flights.
4. CAVU Digital and Travel Services: CAVU provides digital travel services including lounge experiences (1903 Lounge, Escape Lounges), FastTrack, retail solutions, and global distribution of travel products through partnerships with airports worldwide.
5. Car Parking: MAG operates car parking businesses at all three airports using market-leading analytical, ecommerce, marketing and trading expertise for highly successful operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAG owns and operates three UK airports (Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands) providing passenger aviation, cargo handling, airport retail concessions, car parking, and commercial property services. Revenue is generated through aeronautical charges (landing and passenger fees) from airlines, retail and F&B rentals from tenants, cargo handling fees, parking, and digital travel services sold through its CAVU subsidiary. The company also provides background vetting services for aviation personnel and develops mixed-use real estate through Airport City Manchester.

Product overview

MAG Airport operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture consisting of three major UK airports (Manchester, London Stansted, East Midlands) as the core infrastructure, complemented by specialized business units. CAVU provides digital travel services including propel™ technology, Passenger Experiences (lounges, FastTrack, retail), Intelligent Performance (revenue management, digital marketing), and Distribution solutions. MAG Property manages commercial real estate (£603M portfolio), MAG IT delivers technology services, and MAG Vetting Services provides background checks. Cargo operations span all airports with East Midlands being the UK's largest freight hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• propel: CAVU's proven technology platform that drives revenue and growth, creates better customer experience, and unlocks operational efficiencies.
• 1903 Lounge
• Escape Lounges
• Airport City Manchester
• MAG Vetting Services

Products and services

• Manchester Airport The UK's global gateway in the North, the only airport outside London with two full-length runways. Served 25 million passengers in 2023, home to 49 airlines serving 196 destinations across four continents. Used by commercial airlines, passengers, cargo operators, and retail/F&B tenants.
• London Stansted Airport UK airport serving more European destinations than any other UK airport with daily links to Dubai. The only major UK airport with spare runway capacity. Served 25 million passengers in 2023 across 194 destinations. Used by airlines, passengers, cargo operators, and FBO operators including Harrods Aviation.
• East Midlands Airport Regional hub for business and leisure travel across Europe, and home to the UK's largest pure freight operation. In 2023 served 3.3 million passengers across 63 destinations and handled 395,000 tonnes of cargo. Used by passenger airlines, dedicated cargo operators (DHL, UPS, Royal Mail), and FBO operators.
• CAVU (Digital Travel Services) Digital travel services business founded by MAG to unlock value from the airport passenger journey. Offers four key solutions: propel technology platform, Passenger Experiences (lounges, FastTrack, retail), Intelligent Performance (revenue management, digital marketing), and global Distribution services. Sells to MAG airports and licensed to other airports globally (including 15+ USA airports).
• MAG Property Property and development arm of MAG managing almost 6 million sq ft of high-quality commercial space including offices, terminals, hangars, warehouses, and hotels. Provides commercial property leasing and development services to businesses at MAG airport locations.
• MAG IT Provides secure IT services across MAG's airport operations and to third-party clients including airlines, ground handlers, and retailers. Improves productivity and efficiency through bespoke technology solutions tailored for aviation industry businesses.
• MAG Vetting Services Background and security vetting services for aviation industry personnel at UK airports. Offers identity document checks, face-to-face security interviews, 5-year referencing, gap verifications, criminal record checks, and General Security Awareness Training with 15 calendar day SLA.
• 1903 Lounge CAVU's flagship premium lounge brand operating at Manchester Airport, East Midlands Airport, London Stansted Airport, and Bristol Airport. Licensed to partner airports for passenger experience offerings.
• Escape Lounges Lounge brand operated by CAVU at MAG's three UK airports as well as over 15 locations across USA airports. Offers premium passenger lounge experiences with further expansion planned.
• MAG Cargo Services Air cargo handling services at all three MAG airports. East Midlands is the UK's largest dedicated freight operation handling over 700,000 tonnes of air cargo on more than 40,000 dedicated freighter flights in 2022/23. Serves cargo operators including DHL, UPS, and Royal Mail.

Quantifiable outcome

• 61.3 million passengers served (FY24)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UK Government Jet Zero CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020MAG is a founding member of the Government's Jet Zero Council established in 2020, working collaboratively with industry and Government to achieve UK net zero aviation emissions by 2050.
• Sustainable Aviation CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005MAG was a founding member of Sustainable Aviation in 2005, a coalition of UK airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, and air navigation service providers working to reduce aviation's environmental impact.
• Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport City Manchester is a joint venture development between MAG, Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG), Carillion, and Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). BCEG is the Chinese state-owned construction company involved in the £1 billion development creating up to 16,000 new jobs and 5 million sq ft of offices, hotels, and logistics space.
• DHLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDHL is a key cargo partner operating dedicated freighter services at MAG airports. MAG's proactive approach in partnership with DHL has played a significant part in contributing to the UK economy.
• UPScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUPS operates dedicated cargo freighter flights at MAG airports as part of the express parcel delivery network, leveraging East Midlands Airport as a major UK hub.
• Royal MailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Mail uses MAG airports, particularly East Midlands, for cargo operations supporting UK postal and parcel delivery services.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Aéroports de Paris (ADP / Groupe ADP): Groupe ADP operates Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly, and Paris-Le Bourget, and has expanded to manage airports globally through TAV Airports and GMR Airports. It is a direct peer in scale (60M+ passengers), business model (regulated aeronautical + commercial), and international expansion strategy analogous to MAG/CAVU.
• Fraport AG: Fraport operates Frankfurt Airport (one of Europe's largest cargo and passenger hubs) plus a global portfolio of airport investments. It is a direct comparable to MAG given Frankfurt's cargo prominence, multi-airport strategy, and combined aeronautical/retail/property revenue model.
• Royal Schiphol Group: Royal Schiphol Group operates Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and has international stakes including a stake in New York's JFK Terminal One. It is comparable to MAG as a large European hub operator with diversified aeronautical, retail, real estate, and international consulting revenue.
• Flughafen Zürich AG: Flughafen Zürich operates Zurich Airport and holds stakes in several international airports (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India). It is a directly comparable mid-sized European listed airport operator with a similar mix of regulated aeronautical, commercial, and international revenue.
• AENA: AENA is the world's largest airport operator by passenger numbers, operating 46+ airports in Spain and internationally. It is the most direct listed comparable for MAG given its scale, multi-airport portfolio model, and similar mix of aeronautical and commercial revenue streams.

Regional players

• Dublin Airport Authority (daa): daa operates Dublin and Cork airports and provides airport management services globally through its daa International arm. It is a regional peer to MAG given similar geography (close UK/Ireland market), passenger scale, and its parallel strategy of exporting operating expertise abroad.
• Changi Airport Group: Changi Airport Group operates Singapore Changi, one of Asia's premier hubs, with a strong commercial/retail franchise. It is comparable to MAG as a major airport operator with a sophisticated non-aeronautical revenue strategy, though serving primarily a different geography.
• Auckland International Airport: Auckland Airport is a listed New Zealand gateway airport operator with significant aeronautical, retail, and property revenue lines. It is comparable to MAG in business model structure (split between regulated airport charges and commercial property/retail) though it serves a different geography.
• Avinor AS: Avinor operates Norway's 43 state-owned airports and has pursued international airport consultancy work. It is a regional peer to MAG given its mix of regional and hub traffic and parallel expansion of international operational consulting services analogous to MAG's international management contract ambitions.

Broad incumbents

• Vinci Airports: Vinci Airports, part of the global concessions group Vinci, operates 70+ airports worldwide. It is a broad incumbent comparable to MAG via its global multi-airport concessions model and international licensing operations, though as part of a much larger construction/infrastructure conglomerate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MAG_PressOffice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manchester-airports-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MAG Airport