Manchester Airport has busiest ever June

Image by Ian Reay / copyright Shutterstock

A total of 3,019,924 passengers travelled into or out of the airport – up by 39,000 on June 2024. 

With many schools breaking up next week, the airport is about to enter its peak season and passengers are expected to hit their highest level around the August bank holiday weekend with 115,000 people using the airport on Friday 22nd August. 

As passenger numbers increase, the airport is reminding travellers to pack their hand baggage normal, despite the fact that new scanners are in place in all three of its terminals. 

In future the new scanners will mean passengers do not have to remove electronics from their hand baggage and will be able to carry liquids of more than 100mls through security. 

However, current Department for Transport advice is that passengers should prepare to travel as normal, without any liquids above 100mls and by taking electronic items out of bags at security until all security lanes have been updated.

That means passengers travelling this summer should pack as normal – although in the vast majority of cases they will be using a new lane. They can also expect a great service – in June 99% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to get to security and 80% waited less than five minutes.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world. Over the course of the year that means lots of things – it can mean connecting businesses to trading partners, reuniting families and loved ones around the globe and much more.

“But over the summer months the focus is squarely on holidays and fun, not just through connecting the people of the region to their favourite destinations but also by connecting people around the world to the North’s vibrant cities, stunning scenery and globally significant events like the sold-out Oasis reunion concerts. 

“So whether you’re travelling from Liverpool to Lisbon, from Didsbury to Disneyland, or from Helsinki to Heaton Park – we’re ready to provide a great service.

“We’ve got extra staff in all areas and we’ve recently opened key parts of our brand-new Terminal 2, including new check-in desks and a whole new security hall. 

“In the summer months passengers can help make sure they pass through the airport smoothly by packing ready for security – so with electronic items ready to be removed from bags and no liquids of more than 100mls. 

“It’s shaping up to be a great summer here – and we look forward to welcoming everyone travelling through the UK’s global gateway in the North.”

The most popular destinations in June were: 

1. Palma de Mallorca – 108,713 passengers 
2. Alicante – 89,284 passengers
3. Dublin – 88,239 passengers
4. Amsterdam – 84,322 passengers 
5. Antalya – 82,479 passengers
6. Dubai – 77,008 passengers
7. Tenerife – 73,135 passengers
8. Dalaman – 69,021 passengers
9. Paris Charles De Gaulle – 65,073 passengers
10. Faro – 59,425 passengers 

This year the airport has reached a number of key milestones in its transformation programme – which began in 2015 and will be complete later this year.

Among them are that a new security hall and check-in desks in the newest section of Terminal 2 have now opened. Retail spaces in the new part of the terminal have been handed over to the brands that will run them so they can be fitted out, ready to open in the coming months.

A new barrierless system has been introduced in pick-up and drop-off areas meaning drivers no longer have to queue to pay as they leave. Instead, they simply pay over the phone or online by midnight the following day. The new system has eased congestion in the areas meaning fewer people find themselves paying more because they have had to wait at the barriers. 

The airport has also introduced a new TimeSlot system in terminals 2 and 3. It allows people to book a time to go through security meaning they avoid queues. Find out more here.

Manchester Airport has also recently launched flights to Mumbai with India’s biggest airline, IndiGo. The first flights operated earlier this month and are the North’s only direct connection to India’s financial capital. 

The airport also recently announced that from later this year it will become the only UK airport outside London to operate a direct service to Bangkok in Thailand – the world’s most visited city. Flights with Norse Atlantic Airways will start in November.