Manchester Airport handles 3.4 million passengers in RECORD July

Manchester Airport served 3.4m passengers in July 2026, up 2.5pc year-on-year
July represents second busiest month in airport history
Rolling 12-month total reaches 32.3m passengers, up 2.2pc
Antalya and Palma de Mallorca were top destinations
91pc of passengers passed security in 15 minutes or less

Manchester Airport has served more than 3.4 million passengers in July 2026, making it a record-breaking July and the second busiest month in the airport’s history, reflecting a 2.5pc increase compared to July 2025. The airport has experienced a busy year driven by summer holiday travel to popular destinations including Turkey and Spain. July’s total follows May’s 2.9 million passengers (up 0.4pc year-on-year), April’s 2.6 million (down 2.6pc due to Middle East route changes), March’s 2.26 million (up 1.1pc), February’s 2.05 million (up 2.3pc) and January’s 2.0 million (up 5.5pc).

The latest rolling 12-month total for Manchester Airport stands at 32.3 million passengers, a 2.2pc increase compared to the previous 12-month period. This growth comes as the airport group enters the final stages of its major conversion project, with security efficiency reporting that 91pc of passengers passed through security in 15 minutes or less. The airport’s top destinations for July included Antalya in Turkey and Palma de Mallorca in Spain, reflecting strong demand for Mediterranean summer holidays.

Manchester Airports Group recorded 7 million passengers across Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports in July, a 4.2pc increase year-on-year. Manchester Airport continues to invest in infrastructure and passenger facilities as part of its transformation programme. The airport’s performance in July positions it strongly for the remainder of the summer season, with passenger numbers expected to remain elevated through August.

Manchester airport recorded 3,057,129 passengers in June, up 1.3pc on June 2025 and up 3.3pc on pre-pandemic. Rolling annual was 32,228,573, up 2.2pc on the twelve months to June 2025. The total for the first six months of 2026 was 14,919,304, up 1.1pc on the first six months of 2025 and 9.4pc on pre-pandemic.

Manchester Airport MD Chris Woodroofe shared: July’s record performance reflects strong summer holiday demand and the airport’s extensive route network

Figures for 2025

Manchester Airport has continued its strong post-pandemic recovery in 2025, recording its busiest year ever with 32,088,626 passengers passing through its terminals in 2025. This represents a 4pc increase on 2024 and marks the first time the airport has exceeded 32m passengers in a single year.

The growth was particularly evident in the final months of 2025, with December seeing a record 2.4m passengers — a 6pc rise on December 2024 and the airport’s busiest December on record. A strong Christmas period, with over 1m travellers, contributed significantly to this performance.

Early 2026 has maintained the positive momentum. Manchester Airport handled over 2m passengers in January 2026 (a 5.5pc increase year-on-year), helping the wider Manchester Airports Group (MAG) achieve a record 4.1m passengers across its three airports that month.

The sustained rise in traffic reflects robust demand for both leisure and long-haul routes, new airline services, and Manchester’s role as England’s leading airport outside London. Passenger numbers have now comfortably surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with the airport cementing its position as the third busiest in England behind Heathrow and Gatwick.

Ongoing investments in terminal facilities and route expansion continue to support this growth, positioning Manchester Airport as a key global gateway for the North of England.