Dubai and Tenerife in demand as Northern sunseekers get ready for 2025’s first big getaway

Tenerife-mount-teide-g1d0a10653_1920

Tenerife and Dubai are set be popular among Northern travellers over half-term, with thousands of people looking for some sun during the first big break of 2025.

Manchester Airport is preparing for a jump in passengers as February half-term arrives next week – having just recorded its busiest January on record with 1.9million passengers flying into or out of the UK’s global gateway in the North.

That is up 9% on January 2024, the previous busiest January on record. The good news for passengers due to travel in February is that 99% of January’s passengers waited for less than 15 minutes to get to security – and 84% waited less than five minutes.

More than 800,000 passengers are expected to fly into or out of Manchester Airport next week during half-term. Amsterdam and Dublin are expected to be the two most popular destinations with people looking for convenient, low-cost city breaks and those who use the airports to connect to other destinations.

Dubai and Tenerife are the two most popular sunny destinations – with both seeing reliably warm weather at this time of year. In Tenerife people can expect temperatures as high as 25c while in Dubai it could get to 27c. Alicante, Lanzarote and Qatar are all also set to see an influx of passengers from the North next week.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chirs Woodroofe said:

“February half-term is always an exciting week. It’s the first school holiday of 2025 and it’s a great time to get a break from the cold weather here in the UK and head to warmer climes.

“Thanks to our route network of around 200 destinations served by more than 50 airlines, we’re proud to be able to connect the North to more places than any UK airport outside London meaning travellers get real choice, value and flexibility.

“Over half term we’ll see lots of people heading to Mediterranean favourites like Tenerife and Lanzarote where it’s already warm and we’ll also see large numbers heading to the Middle East, Barbados, Orlando and others in search of a bit of sun.

“People travelling next week can expect great service here at the UK’s global gateway in the North. We’ve just recorded our busiest January on record but at the same time we saw 84% of our passengers wait for less than five minutes to get to security.

“We’re preparing for an epic year at Manchester Airport as we near the completion of our ten year, £1.3bn transformation programme. Later on this year we’ll see the full opening of our brand new, award winning Terminal 2 plus a host of other changes that will improve the passenger experience whichever terminal you’re flying from.

“So we can’t wait to welcome you whether you’re heading away in half term or later in the year.”

The most popular destinations from Manchester Airport with top temperatures above 20c in February half term will be:

1.       Dubai

2.       Tenerife

3.       Alicante

4.       Saudi Arabia

5.       Qatar

6.       Lanzarote

7.       Malaga

8.       Abu Dhabi

9.       Marrakech

10.   Fuerteventura

11.   Orlando

12.   Agadir

13.   Bridgetown

14.   Hurghada

15.   Jeddah

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.