Bumper half term helps Manchester Airport to its best February on record
- More than 2million passengers passed through Manchester Airport in February – up nearly 6% on 2024
- More than 800,000 of those passengers travelled during half-term week
- Dublin, Tenerife, Dubai, Amsterdam and Alicante were popular with people heading on half-term getaways
- New route to India set to boost passenger numbers even further when it launches in the summer
Manchester Airport recorded more than 2m passengers in February for the first time in its history thanks to a bumper half-term week.
More than 800,000 of the month’s passengers travelled during the school holiday, a surge driven by people taking advantage of the first break of the year to seek sunshine in places like Tenerife, Alicante and Dubai.
The 2,012,134 passengers recorded in February is 5.9% up on last year – the previous best February on record.
The successful month sets the scene for what is set be another record-breaking year for the UK’s global gateway in the North – which will be further boosted by the announcement of a new route to India launching with the country’s biggest airline IndiGo in the summer.
It will make Manchester the only airport in the North with a direct route to India – the world’s fastest growing major economy. With more than 500,000 people with Indian heritage living within two hours’ drive of Manchester Airport, it is likely to be popular, as well as being a catalyst for trade, tourism and investment.
February also saw Manchester Airport delivering consistent good service to passengers, with 98% of passengers waiting less than 15 minutes to get to security – and over three quarters getting to security in under five minutes.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:
“Here at Manchester Airport, we are proud to connect the North to the world – so delivering a great service for our passengers during school holidays is really important to us.
“We’ve just recorded our busiest February on record – more than 2m passengers – and that was driven by people putting their faith in us during half-term.
“And I’m happy to say that we delivered. Most of our passengers waited less than five minutes to get to security – that’s the kind of seamless experience we know families really value and helps them start their holidays at the airport.
“It’s set to be an exciting year. We’re looking forward to the completion of our £1.3bn transformation programme and the full opening of our brand-new, world-class Terminal 2, which will become the airport’s main terminal and serve around 70% of our passengers.
“On top of that we’re continuing to add the new routes that people in the region want. Our new partnership with IndiGo means we’re the only Northern airport with a direct connection to India.
“We already serve more than 200 different destinations with 50 airlines, but India is a fantastic addition. Not only is it an incredible place to visit and the world’s fastest growing economy, but it’s a great connection for the half a million people of Indian heritage who live within two hours of the airport.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to deliver for our passengers over the rest of 2025 and beyond.”
The most popular destinations during February were:
Dubai – 88,881 passengers
Dublin – 88,191 passengers
Amsterdam – 87,172 passengers
Tenerife – 79,572 passengers
Paris (Charles De Gaulle) – 61,698 passengers
The most popular destinations during half term were:
Dublin – 33,031 passengers
Tenerife – 32,859 passengers
Dubai – 32,842 passengers
Amsterdam – 32,690 passengers
Alicante – 23,745 passengers
IndiGo’s new route between Manchester and India will launch three times per week in the summer. The airline will announce further details – including the exact destination in India – in the coming weeks.
Manchester Airport’s 10 year, £1.3bn transformation programme is coming to a conclusion this year. When it is complete the airport’s brand-new Terminal 2, which has already won the UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles for architecture and design, will have doubled in size.
Work to finish that element of the project is ongoing – including fitting out more than 20 new shops, bars, restaurants and cafes like the airport’s new Chanel store, its first JD Wetherspoon pub and its exciting new Great Northern Market eating concept.
There have also been developments on the airfield to make it more efficient and plans are underway to make some changes to Terminal 3.
The airport is also introducing a new barrierless system at its pick-up and drop-off areas as part of its commitment to enhancing the passenger experience.
The switch will improve the overall experience for both drivers and passengers by streamlining the process. By removing the existing barriers, drivers will pass through more smoothly without the need to stop on exit, helping reduce congestion and improving traffic flow.
Cameras will identify cars by their registration number and automatically record who has used the pick-up or drop-off area. Rather than stopping at a barrier and paying as they leave the area, drivers will leave and then pay the charge by midnight the following day. They can do this over the phone or online.
The new system will come into operation in late March.