Read through our business travel guide to one of the busiest airports in Europe to make the most of your next stay at Manchester airport.
Business Travel Stats
Manchester airport is a record breaker in terms of its size, number of passengers, and the list of destinations that it flies to. The Civil Aviation Authority ranked Manchester as the UK’s third busiest airport, coming closely behind Heathrow and Gatwick.
In June 2014, Manchester airport handled more than 16,000 aircraft movements and served over 2 million passengers. Every year, nearly 20 million passengers fly in and out of Manchester to more than 225 destinations worldwide. The airport is an important hub for business travellers, as it serves some of the world’s premier business destinations, including Dubai, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Zurich, Toronto, and Geneva.
In 2010, £100 million were invested into modernising the airport business infrastructure. The project included the construction of a state-of-the-art business lounge, the development of customer service programmes, and the purchase of body scanners to speed up the security screening process. Within the next 15 years, the Airport City project will add 5 million square feet of accommodation space exclusively devoted to business travellers. A Master Plan has been drafted as part of the airport’s continuous expansion plans. It is expected that by 2030, the airport will serve 50 million passengers per year.
Business Services and Incentives
Manchester airport is fully equipped to cater to the needs of business travellers. This is one of the few UK airports to offer free unlimited WIFI at all terminals. The airport also operates a Fast Track programme, which allows travellers to use a dedicated security lane and to get to the boarding gate faster. This service can be booked online a day in advance and has a cost of £3.50 per person. In addition, the Meet and Greet Plus scheme is ideal for business travellers who are short of time, as the service includes on-site valet parking and fast-track security clearance.
Express check-in is available at Manchester in the form of self-service kiosks, which allow business travellers to bypass the queues and head straight to security. Travellers who are members of the Star Alliance, One World, or Sky Team benefit from additional services when flying through Manchester, including access to dedicated business lounges, additional luggage allowance, and priority check-in.
Airport Business Lounges
Business travellers can access the airport’s executive lounges run by British Airways (terminal 3), Serivsair (terminals 1 and 2), Etihad and Emirates (terminal 1). In addition, the airport operates its own business lounges, known as Escape Lounges. These are available at all terminals and offer free high-speed WIFI, complimentary snacks and drinks, access to international newspapers and magazines, and a dedicated business area with telephone, photocopiers, and fax machines.
The Escape Lounges can be pre-booked online and prices start at £18.99 per person. These facilities are open daily between 5.30am and 8.30pm.
Short Term Office Space / Meeting Venues
Short term office space is available within walking distance of the Manchester Airport train station. There are also a number of options for temporary and flexible office rentals near the airport.
Meeting and conferencing facilities are available at the Concorde Conference Centre. This is a first-class business facility located at the Runway Visitor Park, built on what was a large hangar and offering 1,600 square metres of business space, which can accommodate corporate events with up to 750 people. The Concorde Centre also has two meeting rooms equipped with audiovisual equipment and WIFI. Free parking and catering services are available, and prices start at £38.50 per person.
Business Hotels
There are four hotels located within half a mile of Manchester airport. The nearest hotel is the Radisson Blu, which is connected to the city centre by train and to the airport terminals via a shuttle bus and a walkway. The Radisson Blu offers express check-in/out, 27 meeting rooms, a business centre, and a business class lounge.
The four star Crowne Plaza can be reached with a 10-minute walk from the terminal building. This venue has 8 fully equipped meeting rooms and a business centre offering free local calls and printing, copying, and fax services.
The Bewleys hotel runs a corporate rewards scheme and offers convenient park & fly facilities, as well as 22 executive meeting rooms.
Next is the Hilton, which runs 24/7 shuttles to the airport and has 12 meeting rooms with 8,000 square feet of meeting space, a business centre, and audiovisual equipment rental services.
Distance to City Centre
The airport is located 8 miles south of Manchester’s city centre.
Transport Options and Costs
The airport is located off junction 5 on the M56. In addition to Meet & Greet (valet) parking facilities, the airport has a short stay car park that is only 3 minutes away from the terminal. Long-stay car parks are within 0.6 miles from the airport and are served by a shuttle bus. Meet & Greet, Jet Parks, and Jet Parks Plus facilities must be pre-booked online. Prices range between £19 and £30 per day. To find the best price you can use an airport parking comparison service such as Airport Parking Shop.
Trains travel from the airport station to Manchester Piccadilly every 10 minutes and take 20 minutes to arrive. Other rail connections link the airport with Liverpool, Sheffield, Leeds, and Scotland.
National Express coaches runs services to other major airports and to the city centre starting at £12. City bus number 44 goes to the city centre and runs every 30 minutes 24/7.