On just one day, 28th May 2003, in the middle of the half-term holiday traffic, Manchester International Airport handled over 200 extra flights, bringing fans from Italy to watch the UEFA Champions League Final.
Two years of planning paid off, as aircraft poured in with as many as 202 on the ground at one time, and a total of 889 flights that day. At its peak, 61 flights were handled in one hour. Overall, this was the busiest day in the Airport's 65 year history. More than 60 executive jets, including an Italian Air Force A319, added to the heavy metal parked all around the airport, providing a superb opportunity to see some unusual bizjet action