Formerly known as Ringway Airport, Manchester International Airport (MAN) is located around 9 miles (14km) outside of Manchester. The airport is the busiest in the UK outside of London, processing nearly 18 million passengers each year. The facilities are good, if a bit grubby, and the helpful staff members do their best to move the often overwhelming queues forward. Planned expansions will hopefully allay that congestion.
Flights to Manchester International Airport are available from a number of cities worldwide, including Paris, Dublin, Chicago, New York, Antwerp, Geneva, Frankfurt, Prague, Lisbon, Atlanta, Athens, Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Milan, Islamabad, Doha, Toronto and Rome. There are also many options for local flights within the UK – to Belfast, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, London, Southampton and Glasgow.
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The terminals are fairly close together, and are linked by covered moving walkways. It’s roughly a 15-minute walk between them.</p><p>
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Train: There are nine trains per hour from the airport to Manchester Piccadilly Station in the city center. Tickets start at £3.50. Connections are available from there to virtually every city in the country.
Bus: There are a number of buses that stop at the airport. Buses 43, 44 and 105 go into Manchester city center. Detailed route maps to other destinations are available on the airport’s website. Buses run 24 hours a day, but the frequency varies. Tickets start at £2.40, and the trip takes 45 minutes.
Taxi: There are taxi ranks located at each terminal. Pricing guides are available at the ranks for various destinations around Manchester. Taxi drivers are not required to use the meter for destinations outside of Manchester, so be sure to negotiate the fare before setting off. The fare into downtown Manchester is about £20.
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The multi-story car park next to the terminal offers short-term parking, and long-term parking is serviced by a free 24-hour shuttle bus. Short-term parking starts at £2.20 for 30 minutes, £4 for the first hour, £8 for two hours, £12 for four hours, £18 for six hours, and £27 per day. Long-term parking is £27 for the first day, £40 for two days, and £10 per additional day after that. During peak summer season the airport parking occasionally reaches capacity, so if you can book in advance online it’s a good idea to do so, especially as you can get cheaper rates.
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Money and communications: ATMs, currency exchange and a post office in the airport.
Luggage: The airport has a left-luggage facility that costs £5 per day, and they’ll also ship your luggage if you need. There is a lost and found as well.
Conference and business: There isn’t much in the way of business and conference facilities in the airport, but the attached Radisson Hotel has meeting facilities for up to 350 people as well as a 24-hour business center.
Other facilities: The airport has multi-faith prayer rooms, shower and change facilities (£6.50 per person), children’s play areas, VIP Lounges, smoking areas, dry-cleaning facilities, baby-changing stations, and full handicapped accessibility.
Wi-Fi: There is free Wi-Fi, but you can only surf for 30 minutes in any 24-hour period. Otherwise there are pay-as-you go options available, but you'll need a credit card.
Shopping: There are plenty of shops to choose from, with an extra abundance if you’re looking for women’s clothing and accessories (although you won’t find high-end brands). There is also duty-free shopping with the usual round-up of alcohol, tobacco, perfume and cosmetics. Duty-free items can be shipped directly to your house so you don’t have to fit them into your suitcase.
Food and drink: Dining options at Manchester Airport run the usual range of burger joints and coffee shops, and you’re never too far from a sandwich. There are also a few sit-down restaurants, offering the chance for a filling meal before you board your flight. If you’ve got some time before you go through security, grab a bite at the Bollin River Cafe, which has lovely, picturesque views of the river.
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