Manchester Airports Group says it has reduced carbon emissions by 16% year on year despite a significant rise in passengers.

The group, which comprises Manchester, East Midlands, Bournemouth and Stansted airports, saw passenger numbers at its four sites increase nearly 11% to 48.5 million in 2014.

MAG also saw complaints about aircraft noise fall 24%, which it says was down to a focus on improved techniques. These include increasing the use of both 'Preferred Noise Routes' which concentrate aircraft operations away from built-up areas and 'Continuous Descent Approach', which replaces a stepped approach and reduces engine power and consequently noise and emissions.

Trials are underway at Stansted using GPS technology during take-off, which MAG says will concentrate aircraft over a smaller area and reduce the number of people exposed to aircraft noise.

MAG also says that 82% of the waste produced from its airports now avoids landfill.