Summer holidays set new records for Manchester Airport

July 2025 saw Manchester Airport record its busiest ever day for departures, and second busiest ever month as increasing numbers of passengers start summer getaways from the UK’s global gateway in the North.

Just under 3.3 million passengers flew into or out of Manchester Airport last month, making it the airport’s busiest July on record and its second busiest month ever. The month saw the start of the school summer holidays, with Friday 25th July seeing more than 60,000 departing the airport for the first time. Thursday 31st July, however, was the busiest day across the whole month with 113, 000 flying in or out of the airport.

Strong July passenger numbers are setting the scene for August to be even busier for the airport, with the hub’s busiest ever month anticipated. Friday 22nd August, ahead of the Late Summer Bank Holiday, is expected to be the peak for passenger numbers, with 118,000 expected to fly in or out of Manchester Airport.

To serve the influx of passengers, the airport has extra staff in place across key areas, particularly in security. In July, 98% of passengers waited for less than 15 minutes to get to security and almost three-quarters waited less than five minutes.

As well increased passenger volume, July also saw the opening of a new section of Terminal 2, the centrepiece of Manchester Airport’s decade-long, £1.3 billion transformation programme. Last month a new section of the departure lounge opened with a swathe of new shops and eateries including the airport’s own LEGO Store, Pandora, Rituals, Joe and the Juice and more.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said:

“With the summer in full swing, it’s an incredibly exciting time here and it’s always a real joy to see excited groups of people getting ready to head away on their adventures.

“We take our responsibility to give everyone the best start to their holidays extremely seriously and our colleagues all over the airport are working hard to make sure our passengers get the best experience.

“I’m happy to see that the vast majority of our passengers are queueing for just a few minutes before they get to security meaning they can get into the departure lounges and relax, whether that’s with a good meal, a drink or a bit of airport shopping.

“It’s particularly exciting this summer because many passengers are experiencing our new, award-winning Terminal 2 for the first time. Last month I cut the ribbon on the newest section of the Terminal and it’s great to see passengers using the new shops and cafes.

“August is set to be another busy month here so if you’re due to travel we’re looking forward to welcoming you and are ready to provide a great start to your holiday.”