Manchester Airport Terminal Three to fully reopen this week

Manchester Airport has announced it is to fully reopen Terminal Three.

The terminal has been partially reopened since March 27, but will fully reopen this Friday, April 22.

The airport said all passengers flying with Aurigny, British Airways, Eastern Airways, Iberia Express, Loganair, Ryanair and Vueling should now check in at the Terminal Three entrance.

All arrivals in the airport will also exit from the Terminal Three building.

A range of food and drink outlets, and shops, will also be open in Terminal Three from the 22nd. These include (landside): WHSmiths and Travelex in arrivals (ground level), Caffe Nero in check-in (upper level). Airside: Boots, Costa, WHSmith, Duty Free, Lion & Antelope, Pork & Pickle, KFC, Nook, Kiosco.

The airport has been badly hit by delays in security areas due to letting staff go, or furloughing workers, during the pandemic when international borders were shut and most airlines grounded their fleets.

Two weeks ago the airport’s managing director, Karen Smart, stepped down following uproar over long queues facing passengers, some of whom missed flights because of hours-long delays in navigating security checks.

Last week Manchester was named the third most stressful airport for passengers throughout the whole of Europe by the Digital PR hub at Dublin-based Legacy Communication.

The airport is currently recruiting in a bid to get staffing numbers up to handle the queues. But it is still advising passengers to arrive three hours before their flight to allow sufficient time for delays.

It is also urging passengers to refamiliarise themselves with the rules for security. This includes having large electronic items out and ensuring all liquids, gels and pastes are under 100ml and in a clear re-sealable bag.

Even though the UK Government has now scrapped COVID-19 travel restrictions, passengers are still reminded to check the advice for the country they are travelling to in advance of departure.