Manchester Airport | International | UK

Information about Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport (code IATA: MAN) was initially named Ringway Airport (a name which remains in local use). It is an international airport situated eight miles (12 km) southwest of Manchester city centre. MAN handles about 27 million passengers annually, and is thereby ranked the third busiest airport in Great Britain and one of the top 20 in Europe. The airport is distinguished by its possession of two runways, which sets its potential capacity to 50 million travellers per year. However, this capacity is limited by the airport's restriction to 61 aircraft movements per hour and the terminal's size. Ranked in thirteenth place globally for total destinations served, Manchester Airport provides flights to 199 destinations. The airport has been extended over the years and now covers an area of 560 hectares.

MAN is currently the largest UK-owned airport operator. As a part of The Manchester Airports Group Plc, MAN Airport is jointly owned by the 10 Greater Manchester councils.

How busy is MAN Airport?

MAN Airport is busiest on Thursday, Sunday, and Monday, during normal business hours from 9 am to 5 pm. During this time, the terminal staff is working hard to avoid Manchester Airport delays. However, passengers who have tickets for these days are advised to arrive at least three hours before departure, given possible Manchester Airport queues. MAN also provides FastTrack for security and passport control (from £5 per person).

MAN Airport contact information

The customer contact centre can be found on the second level of the Olympic House, Manchester Airport, M90 1QX, UK. Check the Manchester Airport map to better navigate the premises.

You can also get info on flights, airlines, or any services by calling +44 (0)808 169 7030 or (0)808 169 7030. Lines are open from Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

COVID-19 information

Although international travel has been restored, some countries are still imposing entry restrictions. Therefore, make sure to check which COVID-19 test is needed for the destination you are travelling to. Please note that from March 18th passengers arriving in England no longer need to provide negative COVID-19 test results, or fill out a Passenger Locator Form.

Randox health travel centre offers various departure testing options at Manchester Airport:

• RT PCR (Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) is one of the most common tests. A sample is taken by swab; results usually take between 3 - 48 hours (the price varies depending on the speed of the result's delivery, from £30).

• Rapid Antigen is required for entry into certain countries. A swab or saliva sample is taken, and the results take less than 1 hour.

There are several Randox locations at the airport building:

• The Station Testing Centre.
• T2 Testing Centre which is on the ground level of Terminal 2.

Testing centres are open 7 days a week from 7 am to 7 pm.

Flight alerts at Manchester Airport

Due to unforeseen circumstances, such as adverse weather conditions, Manchester Airport flights may be cancelled or delayed; in the event of such changes, passengers may have to wait at the airport for several hours. Check your flight status using our website to make sure it is on schedule.

Weather in Manchester

If you plan to visit Manchester, keep in mind that the weather is very changeable throughout the year. Summer in Manchester is comfortable, with an average temperature of 59°F-63°F (15°C-17°C). Winter is, on the contrary, cold, windy, and mostly cloudy. The rainiest months in Manchester are November, December, and January. We, therefore, recommend you bring an umbrella, and also check the current weather before making your plans.

Terminals at Manchester International Airport

Manchester Airport consists of three terminals. To find which terminal you need, consult the details of your airline printed on your ticket or itinerary. You can easily move between terminals using a Skylink connecting Terminals 1 and 2. This trip takes around 15 minutes. The distance from T1 to T3 is approximately a 5-minute walk through a covered walk pass.

Manchester Airport Terminal 1

Manchester Airport Terminal 1 is the main terminal for scheduled and charter airlines to various destinations both in Europe and around the world. On the lower floor, you can find the Arrivals hall, as well as elevator and escalator access to the Skylink walkway. The Manchester Airport drop-off area of Terminal 1 can be found in the car park on the left side, next to the Hilton Hotel and the Clayton Hotel. To get to the pick-up point, exit the M56 at junction 5 and follow the sign for Terminal 1, pass T1 M&G and underneath the Sky link and turn left into T1 Short Stay/pick-up car park.

Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport

The Terminal 2 Arrival zone is located on the lower level. The check-in desks are situated on the upper level of the Terminal. The security control point is placed on the same floor, after zone E. More than 20 airlines depart from Terminal 2, including Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, Brussels Airlines, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic International. If you would like to get info on your flight, find an information desk located next to the baggage reclaim zone. The Terminal 2 upper forecourt is conveniently situated near the main check-in hall. The drop-off point on the forecourt can be found in Zone 2. The Terminal 2 pick-up area is available on the ground level of the Terminal 2 West Multi-Storey Car Park.

Manchester Airport Terminal 3

Terminal 3 is located next to Terminal 1 and mainly serves UK and Ireland flights. Airlines operating from Manchester Airport Terminal 3 include Iberia Express, British Airways, Ryanair, and Vueling among others. The drop-off area is situated in front of the terminal straight ahead. Once you exit the M56 at Junction 5, enter the T3 Multi Storey Car Park, and follow signs on the ground level to get to the pick-up zone.

Manchester Airport service

Manchester Airport provides their passengers with plenty of services available in each of the three terminals:

• Shopping in more than 20 stores that offer gifts, beauty products, and popular travel items;
• Free Wi-Fi to stay connected during your stay at the airport;