Manchester Airport - General Thread

[LS@MAN]

A Monday in August 2022 requires 14x based aircraft at MAN to operate the current schedule - 3 or 4 of which will be RYR UK aircraft.

I estimated around 12-13 based aircraft for next summer...so thanks for the info.

So plenty of room for them between stands at T1 on Pier B and the T3 stands where Ryanair used to be based (usually 43-55).
BA are assigned stands 41/42/43.
Loganair/Blue Islands and Eastern are assigned stands 16/17/18.

Easyjet use Pier B currently and also now more often Pier C too, with many of the previous T1 airlines now over in T2.
There are 3 overnight A/CLufthansa X2 & TAP

 

[LS@MAN]

THIS IS A CONTINUATION FROM MY PREVIOUS POST 1,362. I WAS UNABLE TO DELETE OR EDIT THE ABOVE POST.

There are 3 overnight A/C at T1, X2 Lufthansa & TAP...I expect these airlines to move over to T2 before next summer...

I count 41 available stands across T1 & T3, so if there is to be a combined/merged operation, there's plenty of space for both Easyjet and Ryanair, BA, Aer Lingus Regional and the 3 regional airlines flying domestic/CTA flights.

 

[jason1-11]

Excellent news for MAN: https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...airport-to-have-a-direct-saf-jet-fuel-supply/

 

[Paul65]

Hi, new user here and would be grateful for any knowledge. I will be arriving at Manchester on Blue Islands next week and it would be useful to know whether I will likely exit the building via terminal 1 or 3 (I have to schlep over to T2, including a checked bag, for a very tight/slightly crazy self-connect). Blue Islands arrivals for the past couple of weeks are consistently listed as landing at gate 37 (and I appreciate that can change on the day!)

 

[LS@MAN]

Hi, new user here and would be grateful for any knowledge. I will be arriving at Manchester on Blue Islands next week and it would be useful to know whether I will likely exit the building via terminal 1 or 3 (I have to schlep over to T2, including a checked bag, for a very tight/slightly crazy self-connect). Blue Islands arrivals for the past couple of weeks are consistently listed as landing at gate 37 (and I appreciate that can change on the day!)

Hi @Paul65 you will arrive at a Terminal 1 stand, but exit via the T3 domestic arrivals area. And then around 10-15min walk to T2 via the skylink bridge.

Hope this helps and I hope everything runs smoothly for you!

 

[LS@MAN]

Latest trip from the wonders of T1 took me to Amsterdam last week.
Arrived Wednesday at 12.30 to a busy T1 security, only 4 lanes open, 25 minute wait and the usual 2/3 trays per passenger, high rejection rate, which I appreciate is usually down to the passenger.
Terminal quite busy, a lot of queues in various shops/bars, so can only imagine general shortage of staff…not unusual in retail and hospitality right now I know!

Departed gate 2, no problems all on time.

Arrived back at stand 6, walking into what looked like an undercover bus shelter from the 1980’s! How is Pier B still standing??!!
15 minute queue at immigration, not a big deal but there were a few e gates out of action. No bags to collect so straight to the station.

No major issues, I just dread the T1 experience…I looked at flights with KLM first but much more expensive.
I live in anticipation that improvements will happen before what looks like a busy schedule next summer!

 

[KARFA]

Arrived Wednesday at 12.30 to a busy T1 security, only 4 lanes open, 25 minute wait and the usual 2/3 trays per passenger, high rejection rate, which I appreciate is usually down to the passenger.

The rejection rate at MAN is very high and this is due to equipment and staff training, along with the usual passenger issues. The most common reason for my secondaries this year is "it didn't scan" which I can't say I have experienced anywhere else. Of course once you get a few secondaries queuing no more trays can be processed so the whole thing comes to a complete stop.

Of course the equipment is not the fault of the staff, but the attitude definitely is. I struggle to think of a worse airport in the UK, possibly NQY. If the staff were at least pleasant it may go a little way to helping make the experience tolerable.

 

[Paul65]

Hi @Paul65 you will arrive at a Terminal 1 stand, but exit via the T3 domestic arrivals area. And then around 10-15min walk to T2 via the skylink bridge.

Hope this helps and I hope everything runs smoothly for you!

Many thanks for this - appreciated. Great info & I will report back. A friend who did T2->T1 last week reports all the Skylink travelators are broken, so am ready for the hike with multiple bags! I also have a ‘plan B‘ if I do miss the QR checkin deadline. I wish Blue Islands interlined to long haul - FlyBE had a lot of faults, but at least they could check bags to/from the likes of Emirates, Qatar etc.

 

[LS@MAN]

Many thanks for this - appreciated. Great info & I will report back. A friend who did T2->T1 last week reports all the Skylink travelators are broken, so am ready for the hike with multiple bags! I also have a ‘plan B‘ if I do miss the QR checkin deadline. I wish Blue Islands interlined to long haul - FlyBE had a lot of faults, but at least they could check bags to/from the likes of Emirates, Qatar etc.

Some are broken…although they ultimately all need replacing and given the estimated cost, there is currently no justification for spending enormous amounts on replacing these when it could be used elsewhere.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Then they could do with running an inter-terminal shuttle bus via the ground transport interchange until it is fixed. That hike is not fair on passengers, and for some even moderately fit older people it is a major challenge with luggage.

 

[LS@MAN]

Then they could do with running an inter-terminal shuttle bus via the ground transport interchange until it is fixed. That hike is not fair on passengers, and for some even moderately fit older people it is a major challenge with luggage.

Indeed…very good suggestion.
Maybe it could be bought up at the next MACC meeting…

 

[Scottie Dog]

Then they could do with running an inter-terminal shuttle bus via the ground transport interchange until it is fixed. That hike is not fair on passengers, and for some even moderately fit older people it is a major challenge with luggage.

This has been flagged to airport management but, wait for it, no reply has been received.

 

[Paul65]

Then they could do with running an inter-terminal shuttle bus via the ground transport interchange until it is fixed. That hike is not fair on passengers, and for some even moderately fit older people it is a major challenge with luggage.

Couldn’t agree more with this. My SI1162 from EXT landed early today (11.30). We parked in (I think) T2, next to the big Jet2 & Thomas Cook hangers anyway. And were bussed a long way to stand 17 in T1/T3 - bus was waiting at the aircraft on arrival and everyone disembarked promptly, so far so good. We then sat on the bus for 25mins outside the gate “waiting for Swissport to come and open the door”. Bags still took another 10mins to arrive on the belt. I literally ran all the way to T2 and checked in with QR at 12.32 (3mins to spare nominally, although they were still checking people in past 12.35).

While I knew this was a very risky self-connect, I was not impressed with the ground handling at all. There was a taxi at T3 arrivals and I considered jumping in it, but in the end decided to run for it. I guess there are no domestic arrival facilities at T1 or T2?

I also think the airlines should be clearer about arriving and departing terminals, even if these are currently different. Luckily I was expecting to arrive at T3 (not T1) thanks to the helpful message here. I wouldn’t risk such a connection again at MAN, even though I have a fairly high risk tolerance. A shame Blue Islands don’t have the interline agreements that FlyBE used to.

 

[KARFA]

Very risky is an understatement, I would suggest virtually suicidal

I have to say for separate ticket where you have to collect bags and recheck with a scheduled arrival of 1145 and departure of 1335 in different terminals you were very very lucky to get away with this. You really need to leave more than that, as you noted you basically had virtually no padding at all since you needed to get to check in by 1235. 15 minutes arrival delay which is not exactly unheard of and you would have been screwed.

There are domestic arrivals in to T1, Easyjet use it for BHD for example and BA used it for many months. I don't know exactly why Blue Islands exit from T3 though.

 

[Scottie Dog]

I'm glad to know that you made your connection however I am also equally annoyed that Swissport were negligent in their ground handling. When you have time will you be contact Swissport with comments and observations?

 

[LS@MAN]

Couldn’t agree more with this. My SI1162 from EXT landed early today (11.30). We parked in (I think) T2, next to the big Jet2 & Thomas Cook hangers anyway. And were bussed a long way to stand 17 in T1/T3 - bus was waiting at the aircraft on arrival and everyone disembarked promptly, so far so good. We then sat on the bus for 25mins outside the gate “waiting for Swissport to come and open the door”. Bags still took another 10mins to arrive on the belt. I literally ran all the way to T2 and checked in with QR at 12.32 (3mins to spare nominally, although they were still checking people in past 12.35).

While I knew this was a very risky self-connect, I was not impressed with the ground handling at all. There was a taxi at T3 arrivals and I considered jumping in it, but in the end decided to run for it. I guess there are no domestic arrival facilities at T1 or T2?

I also think the airlines should be clearer about arriving and departing terminals, even if these are currently different. Luckily I was expecting to arrive at T3 (not T1) thanks to the helpful message here. I wouldn’t risk such a connection again at MAN, even though I have a fairly high risk tolerance. A shame Blue Islands don’t have the interline agreements that FlyBE used to.

Glad you made your connection and very lucky to do so!
By the sounds of it, the aircraft didn’t actually arrive at a terminal as such, but a remote stand next to the hangers.
Majority of the time Blue Islands use stands 16/17/18.
But unacceptable handling from Swissport, there should have been someone ready and waiting to unlock the doors!

What terminal did Blue Islands state you would arrive at?

 

[Land23R]

Credit to SPD Travels for this tweet: -
Next summer, Manchester’s 4 largest airlines are planned to have at least 83 aircraft based at Manchester. Ryanair want 19, EasyJet 20, Jet2 25 and TUI 19. That’s a serious amount of capacity and doesn’t even account for any away based flying they do.

 

[CM.]

Credit to SPD Travels for this tweet: -
Next summer, Manchester’s 4 largest airlines are planned to have at least 83 aircraft based at Manchester. Ryanair want 19, EasyJet 20, Jet2 25 and TUI 19. That’s a serious amount of capacity and doesn’t even account for any away based flying they do.

To add to this: Aer Lingus plan to base 3 aircraft, Virgin 5, FedEx 2.

SPD Travels on twitter

 

[LS@MAN]

To add to this: Aer Lingus plan to base 3 aircraft, Virgin 5, FedEx 2.

SPD Travels on twitter

Looking good for next summer, hope it all comes off!

I think based on this (and I know it's no guarantee) but I think we can rightly assume T3 will re-open. My assumption would be at the beginning of the summer schedule, which I believe for Ryanair as an example, is end of March/beginning of April.
This would also tie in nicely with the re-opening of 23L/05R too which I believe will happen around the same time.

With regards to terminal moves...I expect majority of airlines currently based in T1 to move over to T2 before next summer.
Exceptions I would imagine are, Aer Lingus (domestic), Easyjet, Ryanair, Loganair, Eastern, Blue Islands, Aurigny, & BA.
Iberia and Vueling are also currently in T1...unsure if MAG would keep the IAG airlines under one roof?...

So...Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, TAP, Air Transat, Hanian, Turkish, Finnair, SAS are the only non based airlines using T1 now, given all the contact and remote stands in T2 now, there should be plenty of room for these airlines to move over. I just hope MAG sort out the security staffing issue in all three terminals!

 

[LS@MAN]

Looking good for next summer, hope it all comes off!

I think based on this (and I know it's no guarantee) but I think we can rightly assume T3 will re-open. My assumption would be at the beginning of the summer schedule, which I believe for Ryanair as an example, is end of March/beginning of April.
This would also tie in nicely with the re-opening of 23L/05R too which I believe will happen around the same time.

With regards to terminal moves...I expect majority of airlines currently based in T1 to move over to T2 before next summer.
Exceptions I would imagine are, Aer Lingus (domestic), Easyjet, Ryanair, Loganair, Eastern, Blue Islands, Aurigny, & BA.
Iberia and Vueling are also currently in T1...unsure if MAG would keep the IAG airlines under one roof?...

So...Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, TAP, Air Transat, Hanian, Turkish, Finnair, SAS are the only non based airlines using T1 now, given all the contact and remote stands in T2 now, there should be plenty of room for these airlines to move over. I just hope MAG sort out the security staffing issue in all three terminals!

I can't find how to edit my last post, but add Emirates to the list of airlines based in T1 that will remain...for now.