Manchester Airport provides its top tips with more than 5m passengers expected over the school summer holidays

Manchester Airport is predicting its busiest summer yet, with more than 5m passengers expected before the schools go back in September.

Passengers should receive a great service at the UK’s third biggest airport, with a range of new features including new check-in desks, a new security hall, new scanners and new shops and bars in place in its £1.3bn Terminal 2.

Since the start of April, which is generally considered to be the start of the summer season, 97% of Manchester Airport’s passengers have waited for less than 10 minutes to get to security and 84% have waited less than five minutes.

Airport bosses expect this to continue during the summer getaway, with more staff in place than normal across key areas of the airports at busy times.

But there are things that passengers can do to help make sure their trip through the airport is smooth. That includes familiarising yourself with new developments at the airport, including its new barrierless drop-off system. The system means people pass through the terminal forecourts quicker and more smoothly after dropping people off, but it is important to remember to pay before midnight the following day.

Before arriving at the airport

Be smart when packing your bags. If you’re only going for a short trip, you may be able to only fly with hand baggage – saving you money. Roll up clothes rather than folding them to save space. But check what your airline’s baggage rules are – and make sure to weigh and measure your bags

If you’re able to, check in online before you’re due to travel – many airlines let you do this several weeks in advance and will usually notify you by email. This is particularly useful if you only plan to travel with hand baggage as you’ll be able to go straight to security

If you will have luggage for the hold of the aircraft and live locally, make use of day-before-baggage-check-in services. Many airlines offer the ability to check-in your bags the evening before you depart, meaning you don’t have to queue on the day. You’ll be able to park for free when you do this. Visit your airline’s website to see if it offers this service

Aim to arrive at the airport in line with your airline’s instructions – this is usually two hours before your flight for short haul and three hours before for long haul

Remember your passport and any other documents you need

Plan your journey carefully. Over the summer the road and public transport networks can be busy so make sure you plan your route carefully and allow plenty of time

Make sure you have drinks and snacks on hand – so not in the boot if you are driving. This is particularly useful in the event of any delays en route to the airport, especially so if you are travelling with children

If you are travelling with children make sure you talk to them about what to expect at the airport. Airports can be overwhelming so it can be useful to prepare them for what they will experience. It’s also worth packing entertainment for the airport

If you or anyone you’re travelling with has any assistance needs, you can pre-book through your airline or travel agent up to 48 hours before your flight. If you are unable to do this in time, you can report to one of the assistance points in all three of the airport’s terminals where staff will be able to help you – it just may take longer than if you book ahead

If you’re driving book your parking in advance to get the best rates

But consider using public transport to get to the airport – Manchester is one of the best-connected airports in the country with a dedicated train, tram and bus station

If you’re being dropped off at the airport, consider the free drop off point at JetParks 1. It’s a five-minute bus ride from the terminals and the buses run regularly, 24 hours a day

Manchester Airport offers a range of services you can book to make your trip easier including Security FastTrack, which lets you use a dedicated lane, TimeSlot, which lets you book a specific time to pass through security, and Passport Control FastTrack for when you return to the airport – find out more here

You can even book personalised assistance to guide you through your whole airport trip with luxurious Meet & Assist services -  find out more here

If you want to really elevate your experience, consider booking to fly from Manchester Airport’s private terminal aether. You can use aether regardless of who you are flying with or where you are flying to – find out more here

At the airport

Prepare for security as normal – so with electronic items ready to be removed from bags and no liquids of more than 100mls. Although Manchester Airport’s three terminals all have new scanning technology in place in the majority of lanes, Government advice is to prepare to travel as normal until all lanes have new equipment in place

If you’re travelling with children through Terminal 1, why not visit the Little Flyers Zone – where there is playing equipment and sometimes entertainment

All three terminals have a wide range of food and drink options so why not allow yourself time to enjoy a meal before you board

Make sure you keep an eye on the screens around the departure lounge so you know when it’s time to go to your gate

You can also use the airport’s new information kiosks – digital screens positioned all over the terminals – to help with a range of things including finding your way around

The airport is a big place – the walk from the departure lounge to the gates can be as much as 10-15 minutes. So allow time to get to the gate and make use of the moving walkways

The airport offers free water refills at points around the terminal so it’s worth bringing a refillable bottle

Manchester Airport Customer Services Director Jennifer Byrne-Smith said:

“We’re proud to connect the people of the North to the world – and in the summer that means helping people get away on their holidays.

“It’s a really exciting time at the airport – there’s a real buzz in the air and the excitement is infectious – but we know the airport can also be quite a daunting place, especially when it’s busy.

“That’s why we’ve shared some hints and tips to help make life easier for people. The main thing is just to plan your visit to the airport in advance – from your travel to get here, being ready at security, and packing entertainment for children.

“We’ve invested more than £1.3bn in transforming Manchester Airport over the last ten years – and that programme is almost complete. Passengers this year will really notice all the benefits of it, especially if they’re travelling from our new, state-of-the-art Terminal 2.

“And if people follow our advice they’ll really be able to enjoy those benefits and really feel like their holidays start at Manchester Airport.” 

The summer season always sees a rise in the popularity of traditional holiday hotspots around the Mediterranean. The most popular short and medium haul destinations are expected to be:

1. Antalya
2. Dublin
3. Amsterdam
4. Palma De Mallorca
5. Dalaman
6. Alicante
7. Dubai
8. Paris
9. Tenerife
10. Doha

It will be the first year that Antalya has topped the list, illustrating the popularity of Turkey.

The most popular long-haul destinations are expected to be:

1. Orlando
2. New York
3. Shanghai
4. Hong Kong
5. Addis Ababa

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.

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.