Manchester Airport records its second busiest month ever recorded

More than 3.3million passengers passed through Manchester Airport in July making it the second busiest month the northern hub has ever recorded.

July’s total is 2.4% higher than the same month in 2025 just below the 3.5m passengers served in August last year – the current busiest month on record.

The school summer holidays have driven the surge in passengers – Antalya in Turkey and Palma in Mallorca proved to be the most popular destinations with sun-seekers last month and Palma looks set to be the most popular over the summer as a whole.

With this month expected to be even busier, the airport has extra staff in place to help make sure passengers get a smooth start to their holidays – but the airport has also offered advice to passengers to help make sure things keep moving.

In July, nine in 10 passengers waited for 15 minutes or less to get through security with the vast majority waiting less than 10 minutes – but passengers have been advised to make sure they arrive at the airport two hours ahead of their flights (or three hours for long haul flights).

Airlines almost always recommend that passengers do this – and it is because it allows plenty of time to check-in and get through security meaning that even if there is a hold up, passengers will not be in danger of missing their flights.

The airport has also given passengers advice on how to make sure their hand and hold baggage get through security checks unchallenged – because one of the biggest causes for airport hold-ups is bags that need extra checks.

The most common mistakes passengers make are innocently packing banned items – like liquids greater than 100mls, multi-tools, and even large squishy toys – in their hand baggage and putting packs with lithium batteries in their hold baggage.

Jennifer Byrne-Smith, Director of Customer Operations at Manchester Airport, said:

“Here at Manchester Airport we’re proud to connect the North to the world – and the summer holidays mean we’re connecting hundreds of thousands of passengers to their favourite destinations every week.

“We’ve got lots of extra staff in place and our brand new, £1.5bn Terminal 2 means we’re well equipped to get everyone on their way – but the airport is busier than usual so we suggest people due to fly take a few steps to give themselves the best start.

“Most importantly we recommend people give themselves plenty of time. Airlines usually recommend people get to the airport two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before a long-haul flight. If people do this it protects them against hold ups.

“That means we want people to factor in plenty of time to get here, allow for traffic on the journey to the airport and time to park once they’re here – or if they’re coming by public transport allow time for delays.

“Packing carefully is important too. Although you no longer need to take liquids or electronics out of your hand baggage, you can’t travel with liquids greater than 100mls – that includes some surprising things like certain squishy toys. We also often see things like toy guns getting confiscated and more obvious items like multi-tools.

“The problem with bringing prohibited items through security isn’t just that they could be confiscated – it’s that these extra checks slow the queues down for everyone.

“If people take these simple steps then they should get a great start to their holidays here at Manchester Airport this summer.”

For more information about packing hand baggage, click here. For more information about packing hold baggage, click here. 

The airport’s £1.3bn improvement programme is wrapping up this year. It means the vast majority of passengers – everyone except for Ryanair passengers – will now use the airport’s state-of-the-art new Terminal 2, which has already won the Prix Versailles for architecture and design.

Terminal 2 is now open to the public and the final few retailers and features have been opening over the last few weeks and months. New arrivals in the departure lounge include a Fever Tree bar, the Great Northern Market food hall, a Chanel store and more.

Manchester Airport also recently announced that its first Wetherspoon’s pub – to be named the Belle Vue after the historic Manchester stadium – will open in Terminal 2 in September. 

The expansion of Terminal 2 has led to the closure of Terminal 1, the oldest part of the airport. It has also allowed work to start on a project to revamp Terminal 3, adding extra space and facilities – including the new Sporting Chance bar, which opened earlier this year.