Manchester Airport (MAN) Flights & Flight Status

Manchester Airport is often overshadowed by the London area airports which get the bulk of the attention and far more long-haul flight options too. But for those in northwestern England there are plenty of options for getting on your way directly from Manchester to the wider world.

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 to handle 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 about a 15-minute walk (or you can take a shuttle). The airport rail and coach station is located around a 10-minute walk or less 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. Allow for time and come armed with 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 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. And by the way, they also offer a fast track pass for arrivals/passport control. Second is that 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 note that installation isn’t due to be complete until 2025 and for now the requirement to remove liquids from hand luggage still applies.

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 – the usual suspects in other words. 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 – but in a pinch you’ll have options.

Tip: The Bridgewater Exchange Pub in Terminal 2 has a reasonably-priced kids menu. If you’ve got a large brood that need feeding, it may be worth looking at.

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 (of course) a Boots 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 10% off for doing so. So you can save time, and money.

Airlines & destinations

easyJet has a major base here and offers direct flights all over Europe. Apart from them you’ll also find a number of European low cost airlines including Jet2 which has a number of flights 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 a 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

Although British Airways doesn’t offer any transatlantic flights out of Manchester, rival Virgin Atlantic fills in some of the gap it leaves with flights to the Americas including Atlanta, New York, Orlando and a few more depending on the season. In addition Aer Lingus now also has direct transatlantic service from Manchester to New York, Orlando and Barbados.

Singapore Airlines also serves Houston nonstop, though this service will be ending in 2025. For those headed to Canada, Air Transat offers service to Toronto.

Lounges

Manchester has several lounges spread across its three terminals, though none are standouts 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 your or not will depend, but it’s good to know it’s an option!

WiFi

There is free WiFi at Manchester Airport for up to 4 hours in any given day. There’s also the option to pay a little extra for much faster speeds – if you’ve got big files needing 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 Uber which will usually 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. But honestly the train is very easy and quick, there are no fees to contend with, so if I’m heading to the centre of Manchester I will usually just do that.

Train

The train runs regularly between Manchester Piccadilly and the Station at the airport. They take around 20 minutes each way and run about 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 centralised transport station. National Express and others 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 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 cafe, picnic area and plenty of space for kids (and adults) to run around. If I ever have extra time between flights I’ll usually head here.

Otherwise, if you have anything close to a full day between flights it’s a quick and easy hop into town on the train and there’s plenty to see 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 next morning’s flight, saving time the following day.