Manchester Airport (MAN) Flights & Flight Status

Manchester Airport is often overshadowed by the London area airports, which offer more long-haul flight options and are used by far more travellers. But for those in northwestern England, there are plenty of options for exploring the world directly from Manchester.

And skipping the London airports (and their busy airspace, as anyone who’s missed their connection after getting stuck in a Heathrow holding pattern can attest) can be well worth it.

The terminals at MAN range from quite okay to very much in need of updating, and it’s far from a perfect airport. In fact, you’ll hear a lot of complaints about it. But, especially when compared to the London airports, it’s not always as bad as some make it out to be. Especially if you come equipped with all the information you need to navigate it smoothly.

Terminal layout & finding your way around

Manchester has three terminals: 1, 2, and 3. Of these, Terminal 2 is by far the nicest with the most room for passengers.

The airport grounds are fairly compact and quite walkable via the Skylink walkway, which is good news. Terminals 1 and 3 are in the older part of the airport and next to each other, while T2 is a bit further away – up to a 15-minute walk (though there is also a shuttle). The airport rail and coach station is around a 10-minute walk from all the terminals.

It’s worth knowing that, due to the older design of many of the terminal areas and the growing number of passengers using them every year, you will probably have to queue at some point during your journey through Manchester Airport. So, bring enough time and plenty of patience.

Security

Security queues can be highly variable in my experience so, again, it’s a good plan to arrive with plenty of time, just in case. Outside of peak times, it’s not impossible to get through in just 5 minutes, but things can get overcrowded quickly at all three terminals.

Tip: there are two things that can help in this case. First is the option to buy Fast Track security access (if you don’t have a premium ticket that already includes it) for a very reasonable price. Depending on queues, this can be well worth it. There is also a fast track pass for arrivals/passport control on offer. Secondly, the airport website helpfully posts live estimated security wait times on the home page.

Advanced scanners

Manchester Airport is in the process of installing advanced “CT” scanners, which allow passengers to leave most items in their bags, saving time and reducing stress at security. However, installation isn’t due to be complete until 2025, so the requirement to remove liquids from hand luggage still applies for now.

Dining

The options for getting something to eat at Manchester Airport are pretty much as expected and similar to many other UK airports. You’ll find M&S Simply Food, Costa Coffee, Giraffe and Pret—mostly grab-and-go and café-style foods. There are a handful of others that are less known too. Prices do tend to be high, so I wouldn’t recommend planning time for a big lunch.

Tip: The Bridgewater Exchange Pub in Terminal 2 has a reasonably-priced kids menu. If you're travelling with (hungry) children in tow, this is the place to go.

Shopping

Manchester Airport is much like just about any other airport when it comes to shopping: you have plenty of options from duty-free to the big name brands. And of course you’ll always find a WH Smith for books, magazines and some assorted essentials, as well as a Boots, offering health, beauty and pharmacy products, in every terminal

Tip: I’ve never used it myself, but if you’re looking to get into duty-free shopping properly, the airport does offer the option to reserve items in advance and will often give you a 10% discount for doing so. So you can save time and money.

Airlines & destinations

easyJet has a major base at Manchester Airport and offers direct flights all over Europe. Apart from them, you’ll also find a number of European low-cost airlines including Jet2, which flies many routes around the continent. All the bigger European airlines are represented here as well.

The Gulf airlines are well-represented at Manchester, including Emirates with multiple A380s departing every day, as well as Qatar Airways and Etihad. Ethiopian Airlines also has daily service to its hub at Addis Ababa. Between those four, there are plenty of options for connections to just about anywhere in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Smaller carriers like Royal Jordanian and Egyptair also offer a variety of connection options.

There’s also now some service from Chinese airlines including Juneyao (to Shanghai) and Hainan (to Beijing). The good news is that these and many of the full-service airlines, especially those flying further afield, fly out of the superior Terminal 2. However, note that Emirates and Etihad use Terminal 1.

Transatlantic

Currently, Manchester Airport only offers direct flights to Toronto in Canada with Air Transat. Virgin Atlantic offers direct flights to several US destinations including Atlanta, New York, Orlando and a few more depending on the season. Aer Lingus now also has direct transatlantic service from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados.

Sadly, British Airways doesn’t currently offer any transatlantic flights out of Manchester.

Lounges

Manchester Airport has several lounges spread across its three terminals, though none stand out especially. The only airline-specific lounges are the Emirates and Etihad lounges, both in Terminal 1. Otherwise, you’ll find some familiar brands of contract lounge at each terminal, mostly Escape and Aspire lounges. These can be accessed with Priority Pass and other memberships, or by paying for a day pass.

Tip: The airport website sometimes offers discount codes towards the purchase of lounge access in exchange for signing up for marketing emails. Whether that’s worth it to you or not will depend on personal preference, but it’s good to know it’s an option!

WiFi

There is free Wi-Fi at Manchester Airport for up to 4 hours. There’s also the option to pay a little extra for much faster speeds—if you’ve got big files that need uploading, for example, it can be worth it.

Getting to and from Manchester Airport

Manchester Airport is well-situated for accessing the city of Manchester itself, and its close proximity also helps keep prices down. You’ll also find the full range of options for both private and public transport.

Taxi and Uber

Taxis and Uber/Bolt are a convenient option at Manchester Airport and journey times to the city are very reasonable, as are costs. That’s especially true if you take an Uber, which will generally be the cheaper option.

Do keep in mind that drop-offs and pickups next to the terminals at Manchester Airport are charged a fee, and that fee will be passed on to you if you request an Uber. In theory, though, there is a free drop-off area connected to the terminals via shuttle bus—in case you want to avoid the charge. However, the train is very quick and easy and there are no extra fees to contend with, so this is my preferred option when heading to the centre of Manchester.

Train

The train runs regularly between Manchester Piccadilly and the airport's train station. The journey takes around 20 minutes one way, with trains departing every 10 minutes during the day. Onward connections across England and to Scotland are available from Manchester Piccadilly.

Bus and coach

You’ll find local buses as well as longer-distance coaches at the centralized public transport hub. National Express and other providers offer a variety of options at reasonable prices to nearby towns and further afield.

Things to do during a layover

Manchester Airport has a lovely plane spotters area known as the Runway Visitor Park. That’s adjacent to a museum which houses a number of retired aircraft including a Concorde, and there’s an aircraft memorabilia and model shop there too. There’s a café, picnic area and plenty of space for kids (and adults) to run around. I usually head here when I have extra time between flights.

Otherwise, if you have anything close to a full day between flights, it’s a short hop into town on the train—and there’s plenty to see and do in this often-overlooked city.

Airport hotels

There are a number of airport hotels within easy walking distance of the terminals, but my personal favourite is the Radisson Blu, which is right along the Skylink walkway and right in the middle of everything.

Tip: if you’re at the airport the evening before your flight, don’t miss the “twilight” check-in service offered by airlines including Jet2 and Virgin, wherein you can check your bags in prior to your morning flight, saving time and reducing your to-do list on the day of travel.