Manchester, United Kingdom

Manchester International Airport

Manchester Airport Code: MAN

Manchester International Airport

In operation since 1934, Manchester International Airport is Britain's third largest.  International flights began in the 1980s and the airport now serves 96 airlines and 17 million passengers each year. Three terminals serve increasing amounts of air traffic and construction of a second runway was completed in late 2000. The new runway will allow a further 23 million passengers to travel from the airport.

To sustain its long term growth and support regional development, the Airport has endorsed around a hundred environmental policies to minimise the impact of its operations. It has introduced the Green Commuter Plan to reduce the number of car journeys made to the Airport.

The airport has received international acclaim, including recently being named as Top UK airport by Travel Bulletin Magazine, the magazine of Travel Agents, and also receiving an award for value for money from the International Air Transport Association.  Manchester International Airport (Ringway) was named European Airport of the Year in March 2001 by transport executives and businesses, after impressing judges with the new runway and plans to build a £60 million public transport interchange.

Just ten miles outside of Manchester, access to the terminals is excellent from all major motorways, and public transport services from the surrounding boroughs are frequent and direct. Manchester's rail network also serves the airport, and services are regular and reliable.  The new transport interchange will provide extra railway capacity and a new bus station. The aim is to further improve 'seamless' travel into the heart of the airport site via all modes of public transport. The Metrolink light railway service is to be extended to reach the airport at a cost of £289 million, and is due to be completed in 2005.To date, 440 million people are within three hours flight time of the airport.

Tours of the airport can be arranged at the Tour Centre in Terminal One which also houses displays by the airlines and shows specialist aviation videos. Visitors have access to an outdoor viewing park and spectator terrace, opened in 1992. The Business Centre can accommodate up to 400 guests for conferences, functions and meetings and is equipped with a range of multimedia facilities available for hire.

Accessibility is one important factor which makes the airport one of the best in the world. Set in a major regional motorway interchange, on a national rail network, travel to the capital of the North West has never been easier.

More information can found at Manchester International Airport's website. (external site)