Exclusive: Manchester Airport’s MD reveals all

Manchester Airport has spent 10 years and £1.3 billion creating a new ‘super-terminal’ worthy of the UK’s third biggest airport, which saw annual passenger numbers reach record levels of 32 million in 2025.

In this exclusive interview,  Portal North talks to managing director Chris Woodroofe, who has brought the project to fruition, about what the revamp means for passengers.

Tell us about the new so-called super-terminal

It’s a terminal befitting the airport’s status as the UK’s global gateway in the North. Passengers have given us really positive feedback on the new-look Terminal 2, which boasts state-of-the-art security scanners and check-in desks, as well as digital information kiosks to help passengers find their way around.

The work we’ve done to extend T2 has more than doubled the size of the terminal – along with attaching a new pier with extra aircraft gates.  Work is very nearly complete and by summer 2026, passengers will have use of the whole terminal.

Will the increased scale impact peak season travel?  

It’s not just bigger, it’s also more efficient, with more than sufficient capacity during peak season.

There are further shops and eateries still to open, including the Great Northern Market featuring pop-up street food vendors, as well as the airport’s first Wetherspoons pub.

Has the redevelopment addressed accessibility? 

Accessibility is at the core of the terminal’s design and we work with an independently chaired Accessibility Forum. Passengers with restricted mobility are advised to book assistance through their airline in advance, with this service delivered for us by industry leaders.

What about Terminal 3?

The completion of T2 allows us to shift focus towards T3 and the experience it offers to Ryanair passengers using it, with all other airlines having moved to T2. Ryanair accounts for almost 30% of our passenger numbers, our largest airline by passenger volume, so we were keen they also see the benefits of the investment we’re making.

The closure of T1 gives us the opportunity to incorporate some of that space into T3 too. We’ll be opening a new 469-seater sports bar called Sporting Chance, with views over the airfield, and a new Italian restaurant.

Will there be more new routes?

There have been many welcome developments to the route network over the last 12 months including a direct flight to Bangkok with Norse and new routes to Mumbai and Delhi with IndiGo.  As far as 2026 goes, we remain keen to add to our long-haul route network in North America and Asia.

Tell us about recent changes to parking and drop-off at the airport.

We removed barriers in our drop-off zones to take out bottle-necks that slowed traffic, caused congestion and in some cases led to people paying more than they should because they had to wait to exit. Paying the charge online or over the phone by midnight the next day is simple, straightforward and quick. I’d recommend people sign up for autopay by visiting pay.manchesterairport.co.uk. That removes any risk of forgetting.

Drop-off charges help us manage traffic congestion and are really effective in doing that. Removing the barriers is making things even smoother. Dropping off at the door isn’t the only option though. We do have a completely free drop-off service in our JetParks car park, with shuttle buses directly to the terminal doors.

What’s your top tip for travellers to ensure a smooth departure? 

Plan your journey to the airport ahead of time, check transport updates before you leave and if you’re driving, make sure you know where you’re parking. Remember your passport, obviously, and check it has six months’ validity left, as this is a requirement for visiting many parts of the world. And make sure your luggage complies with airport security regulations.

What don’t you travel without?  

A sense of gratitude. Operating an airport like Manchester is incredibly complicated and relies on the hard work, expertise and dedication of thousands of people.

Read the magazine for more, including recently announced new routes from Manchester.