Birmingham International Airport handled 635,052 passengers during February - smashing the previous highest figure recorded for the month and a 9.2 per cent increase over the previous year.

The total figure included 527,799 scheduled passengers and 107,253 charter passengers spread across the two passenger terminals. 

Joe Kelly, acting managing director of Birmingham International Airport, said yesterday: "It was a record-breaking February for the airport, which is great news.

"We are delighted to have seen bmibaby launch its new route to Krakow in Poland recently, which once again increases the choice available to passengers flying from their local airport."

In February, growth was achieved on non- EU routes of 10.3 per cent, EU of 15.4 per cent and domestic of 3.9 per cent.

The Irish Republic saw an increase of 23.1 per cent, while services to Asia increased 1.5 per cent.