Manchester Airport’s top tips for winter travellers as first cold snap looms
With weather forecasters predicting the first cold snap of this winter in the coming days, Manchester Airport is preparing to counter any risk of disruption – and is sharing advice with passengers on how they can ensure the frosty conditions don’t catch them out.
The airport has its well-equipped snow fleet on standby throughout the winter months to tackle any accumulations of snow or ice on its airfield, with more than 20 miles of runways, taxiways and stands to keep clear.
Grit salt is corrosive to aircraft and unsafe for use on the airfield, so vehicles spread de-icing fluid instead – with grooves built into runways and taxiways to aid with grip. But during particularly cold weather or a heavy downfall of snow, accumulations can still happen – and just a few millimetres of ice or settled snow can be enough to pose a real danger to aircraft, due to the size and weight of airliners and the speed at which they travel down the runway.
When accumulations happen, more than 30 heavy duty vehicles are available to be deployed, fitted with ploughs, blowers, brushes and more. Between them they can shift thousands of cubic metres of snow in a matter of minutes.
Passengers are also being reminded of the steps they can take to avoid any issues on their journey to the airport, and when they get there;
1. Plan your journey in advance, allow plenty of extra time and check travel conditions on the way to the airport. Snow and ice can cause disruption on road and rail. Check travel information online and look out for travel news on TV and radio. Train travel can also be affected by cold weather but operators will update you if your journey is affected by significant delays. Any type of travel is likely to be impacted by severe weather so always allow extra time.
2. Make sure you are prepared in case you get stuck or significantly delayed en route to the airport. If you are driving, make sure you have food, a drink, warm clothes, sturdy shoes, a blanket, a phone charger, de-icer, a warning triangle, a torch, a first aid kit and a shovel. If you are on the train, make sure you have a phone charger, warm clothes and things to keep you and your family occupied.
3. Make sure you are dressed for the weather in the UK – not just for wherever you are going. If you are going somewhere warm it may seem inconvenient to take a coat, hat, gloves and sturdy shoes with you - but you will be glad of them if you face disruption on your journey to the airport or on your way home.
4. Keep an eye out for communications from your airline and from the airport. Your airline will inform you of any schedule changes in the event of weather-related disruption. Remember that even if conditions don’t seem too bad in Manchester, severe weather further afield can cause disruption to flights into Manchester, which might then impact your flight out. Make sure you can access your emails and follow your airline on social media. Some airlines have apps that will send alerts direct to your phone if there are updates. In the unusual event that the airport’s airfield has to close in part or in full, you can monitor the airport’s social media accounts for updates.
5. Be careful. Snow and ice can make surfaces slippery so take care. The airport grits and treats all footpaths, walkways and car parks and monitors them throughout the day, but quick accumulations of snow and ice can nevertheless create slip hazards.
A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “We know that when passengers see wintry weather in the forecast they naturally have concerns about how that might impact their journeys – but we are well versed in dealing with these scenarios and have an expert team on hand to minimise any potential disruption. When we know wintry weather is coming, the road network, footpaths and car parks around the airport are gritted, the airfield is treated and we closely monitor detailed weather forecasts to ensure the right preparations are in place.
“While we can take every possible measure to minimise the effects of severe weather, sometimes a degree of delay or disruption is unavoidable for safety reasons – and that’s why we encourage passengers to keep a close eye on updates from the airport and their airline. It’s also why we’re asking passengers to ensure they plan carefully ahead of their journeys to and from the airport in the next couple of days, with icy weather in the forecast.”