Manchester Airport (MAN)
History, Facts and Overview

(Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK)

Originally known as Ringway Airport, Manchester Airport was planned in the mid-1930s, during the exciting age of aviation. Officially opened for business in 1938, the airport was used as a training base for the military during the war years, with expansions underway by the late 1940s, including an extension of the runway.

The booming holiday package industry in the 1960s was a definite turning point in the history of Manchester International Airport and saw the arrival of a striking new terminal building, along with two large passenger piers. Over the next 20 years, facilities with improved and a third pier added, together with a new departures area. Long-haul flights were introduced in the 1980s and the airport became an important International Gateway, when it was named Manchester International Airport (MAN).


Onsite at Manchester Airport you will discover a comprehensive range of facilities aimed at passengers of all backgrounds. Essentials include ATMs, bureaux de change, business facilities and medical centres. Lounge areas offer a wide variety of shopping, dining options and duty-free shops, such as Dixons Tax Free and Alpha Airport Shopping, which can all be found beyond passport control in the departures lounges.

The airport has conference facilities for up to 400 people, while the nearby Bewleys, Crowne Plaza, Hilton, Radisson and Atlantic hotels offer comprehensive business centres featuring a wide range of related services. Worth noting, business passengers will only find basic facilities available at Manchester Airport itself.