Manchester Airport now has two passenger terminals, not three. Terminal 1 closed permanently on 19 November 2025, and its space was folded into an expanded Terminal 3. If your flight used to leave from Terminal 1, check your booking again, since your terminal has almost certainly changed.
Terminal 1 is gone, not renamed
After more than 60 years in operation, having opened in 1962, Terminal 1 closed to passengers on 19 November 2025. It marked the first time in three decades that Manchester has operated as a two-terminal airport. Importantly, the building was not fully demolished. Its entrance, security hall and airside space were repurposed and absorbed into an expanded Terminal 3, which was rebranded under the Terminal 3 name from 5 March 2026. Around 2,000 signs across the airport have been amended to remove references to Terminal 1, so if you're following old directions, boarding passes or apps that mention "Terminal 1", treat them as out of date.
The two terminals at a glance
| Terminal | Approx share of flights | Typical airlines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Around 75 to 80% | easyJet, Emirates, British Airways, Jet2, TUI, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar, Singapore, Aer Lingus, Finnair, Icelandair, SAS, Gulf Air, Norse Atlantic, the Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian group, TAP Air Portugal | The new £1.3bn "super terminal"; has more than doubled in size |
| Terminal 3 | The remainder | Ryanair, plus some domestic and short-haul services | Absorbed former Terminal 1 space; upgrade works ongoing |
Terminal 2, the £1.3bn "super terminal", now handles roughly three-quarters of all flights and is where most of the major long-haul and legacy carriers that used to be spread across the old three-terminal layout have moved to. Terminal 3 is now used exclusively by Ryanair alongside some domestic and short-haul routes, and is itself being refreshed as part of the changes, with new outlets including a 400-plus-seat sports bar and an Italian restaurant planned as the old Terminal 1 space is brought into use.
How to check which terminal you actually need
The safest way to confirm your terminal is your airline booking confirmation or check-in email, since that reflects the current, post-Terminal-1 layout rather than any older information you may have saved. Manchester Airport also publishes an official "Which terminal?" tool and terminal maps on its own website, which is worth checking again even if you've flown from Manchester before, given how much has moved since the Terminal 1 closure.
Getting to the right terminal
Both terminals are reached from The Station, the single covered transport interchange that brings together the rail station, the Metrolink tram stop, bus and coach stands and car hire under one roof. From The Station, budget a genuine 10 to 15 minute walk to either terminal along the covered Skylink walkway, which is longer than most people expect even with its moving travelators. If you're being dropped off by car, the paid forecourt drop-off zones sit directly outside each terminal, while the free drop-off area with its 24/7 shuttle is a short ride away; see the drop-off page for the current charges. For the fastest way in from the city centre, the direct train reaches Manchester Piccadilly from Manchester Airport station at The Station in 13 to 19 minutes; see the public transport page for times and fares.
Frequently asked questions
Is Terminal 1 still open at Manchester Airport? No. It closed permanently on 19 November 2025 after more than 60 years and is no longer in passenger use. Its building was absorbed into an expanded Terminal 3, rebranded from March 2026.
Which airlines fly from Terminal 2 at Manchester? Terminal 2 handles around three-quarters of all flights, including easyJet, Emirates, British Airways, Jet2, TUI, Virgin Atlantic, Qatar, Singapore, Aer Lingus and the Lufthansa/Swiss/Austrian group, among others.
Which airlines fly from Terminal 3 at Manchester? Terminal 3 is now used exclusively by Ryanair, alongside some domestic and short-haul services, in a building that has absorbed the former Terminal 1 space.
How do I check which terminal my flight uses? Check your airline's booking confirmation or check-in email, since it reflects the current layout, and use the official "Which terminal?" tool on Manchester Airport's own website if you're unsure.
How do I get from The Station to my terminal? Allow a genuine 10 to 15 minutes to walk along the covered Skylink walkway to either terminal, more than 400 metres and longer than most people expect.
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Last verified August 2026 by the Manchester Airport Guide editorial team. Prices and timetables change, so confirm the specifics on the official Manchester Airport website before you travel.