Manchester Airport

24 million passengers travel through Manchester Airport every year, making it the forth largest airport in the country. Indeed, outside of Greater London it is the UK’s biggest, and its facilities and customer services reflect this. Having won several awards in the past few years including best UK airport Manchester is the enduring choice for many, particularly in the north of the country.

Ryanair, easyJet and Jet2.com all fly from Manchester. It is thus a popular option for those looking to spend less on their flights. Some of the best available deals for European and North African flights depart from Manchester and many people choose it above their local airport to save on ticket costs, especially for European family trips.   Manchester hosts 80 air and tour operators which fly to more than 200 destinations. A large proportion of these are European, but Manchester is also a gateway to Northern Africa, USA, Canada, the Caribbean, and several Asian countries. See below for a comprehensive list of these.

Getting to Manchester Airport

By car

The airport is conveniently located, and can be reached within 20 minutes from Manchester city centre along the M56 motorway. Turn off at junction 5 onto the dedicated approach road. Minor roads also serve from the north and the east. If you have a sat-nav, enter M90 1QX which will take you to main the airport site. From there the separate terminals can be accessed by following the signage.

There are three terminals at the airport. Check which one you fly from before travelling to avoid unnecessary hold ups. Your terminal will be indicated on your ticket, or can be checked on the Manchester Airport website.

In terms of Manchester airport parking, there are a variety of pre-bookable services. Meet and Greet or Valet are the most convenient of these, but also the most costly. Meet and Greet allows you to drop your car right next to the terminal, ideal for those with a lot of luggage. Your car will then be parked for you and brought back to the terminal when you return. This service costs around £40 per week. VIP Valet Park is also available at a daily rate of £8.75.

If you are looking to cut down on airport costs then choose Shuttle Park, which is pre-bookable and only £3.75 a day; the most economic option at the airport. Buses from the Shuttle Park travel to all terminals and are scheduled every 15 minutes (Bus number 4). The journey takes between 5 and 15 minutes and is approximately 1 mile.

Multi-storey car parks offer self-parking in close proximity to all three terminals. Undercover walkways lead to the terminals, which are only a few minutes away. You can book this option online at a cost of £7.50 per day.

Whichever option you select, it is wise to prebook as paying on arrival will be significantly more expensive and the airport cannot guarantee that there will be spaces available. In addition, finding a parking space could take up valuable check-in time.

Another option is to stay at an airport hotel before you travel. Many include a parking deal which allows you to leave your car at the airport for an additional fee. You can compare the prices of Manchester Airport hotels online, and will find that costs range from £47 a night to upwards of £150. 

By Taxi 

Arrow Cars and Hackney Cabs are located at each terminal for an easy transfer to the city centre or railways station. Arrow Cars are an independent airport taxi service which you can pre-book online. Hackney Cabs are payable on a taxi-meter basis if you are travelling anywhere within Manchester. Enquire about fixed rates for longer distances.

By Train

There is a train station within Manchester airport making this an extremely convenient option. The Station links directly to over 100 destinations across England, predominantly in the north, including Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool and York. If travelling from elsewhere in the country you will most likely have to arrive at Manchester Piccadilly station and then take one of the frequent train services (of which there are up to 9 per hour) from there to Manchester Airport. This costs £3.50 and takes around 17 minutes.

The Skylink moving walkway connects the station to terminals and takes around five minutes to navigate.

By Coach

Coach services also arrive at The Station (Manchester Airport’s integrated transport hub), as do buses. National Express, Stagecoach and local buses all run frequently. National Express is a great option for anyone who wants to pay a little less. A rough guide to the best return prices: Birmingham £18, Glasgow £35 and Sheffield £14. Prebook for the lowest fares, and be aware of additional baggage fees if you are taking a lot of luggage.

By Tram

There are plans to link Manchester’s popular tram network, Metrolink, with the airport, but this will not come into fruition until 2016.

Staying at Manchester Airport 

Due to the low cost flights that go from Manchester and the efficiency and popularity of the airport many choose to travel from across the country. In this case, it may be convenient to stay at a Manchester airport hotel. This is also a handy option for those who have a particularly early flight and do not wish to travel through the early hours to reach the airport.

Premier Inn Manchester Airport

For low cost accommodation the Premier Inn is the obvious choice. It is 1.5 miles from the airport and the transfer takes 5-10 minutes by taxi or bus.

Raddison Blu Manchester Airport

This 4-star hotel is located on the airport site, making it one of the best placed and most luxurious accommodation options. An elevated walkway connects it to all three terminals. Facilities include a restaurant and health club.

Airport Lounges Manchester

Manchester Airport’s Escape Lounges are located in Terminals 1 and 2. Lounges include complimentary meals, a cosy fireplace, a kids area and a business zone complete with wifi and newspapers. Be Relax is the airports very own spa, located in terminal one and open to all lounge customers with special discounts on beauty treatments and relaxation therapies.

Destinations from Manchester Airport