Manchester Airport: Record-Breaking Growth Meets Recent Operational Challenges

Manchester Airport’s Remarkable Growth Trajectory

Manchester Airport has solidified its position as one of the UK’s most important aviation hubs in 2025, achieving unprecedented passenger numbers and completing major infrastructure investments. Manchester Airport crossed the 30‑million threshold for the first time, with 31.1 million passengers, a 8.4% increase compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. This milestone places Manchester in the ’30 Million Club’ alongside major international airports such as La Guardia in New York and Melbourne Airport in Australia.

The airport’s success reflects not only recovering travel demand but also strategic investments in passenger experience. The airport is nearing the completion of a £1.3 billion upgrade that has been ongoing for a decade. This transformation includes the redevelopment of Terminal 2, which is now a state-of-the-art ‘super-terminal’ that will cater to around 75% of the airport’s passenger traffic.

Recent Runway Disruption Causes Delays

Despite its impressive growth, Manchester Airport faced significant operational challenges this week. A surface failure on the main runway of Manchester Airport meant that many flights were disrupted and cancelled on 15 December 2025. The incident compounded existing delays caused by adverse weather conditions affecting the region.

Runway 05L/23R was closed due to a surface failure, leaving the airport to operate on a single runway. As a result, departure delays averaged around 60 minutes, while arriving flights were delayed by approximately 45 minutes. Flights were cancelled for many of Manchester Airport’s airlines, with easyJet alone being forced to cancel around a dozen flights, affecting an estimated 2,000 passengers.

Looking Ahead: Christmas Travel and Future Plans

The timing of the disruption is particularly significant as Manchester Airport prepares for its busiest festive period. The disruption comes as the airport is preparing for its “biggest Christmas yet” between 19 December and 4 January, when more than 1.5 million passengers are expected to travel through Manchester Airport.

Despite the recent setback, Manchester Airport’s long-term outlook remains positive. The completion of the Terminal 2 transformation project and continued investment in infrastructure position the airport to maintain its crucial role as the UK’s primary gateway in the North, connecting over 200 destinations globally and supporting regional economic growth for years to come.