Manchester Airport is in the middle of its £1.3 billion ‘Transformation Programme’. The project saw the closure of the long-standing Terminal 1 in March 2026, making way for the mega project that aims to reinvent Terminal 2 into a state-of-the-art super terminal.
With the closure of Terminal 1, the new arrangement is exceptionally simple:
- Terminal 2: every airline except Ryanair
- Terminal 3: Ryanair only
Despite the project’s scale, family travel through Manchester’s new two-terminal layout doesn’t have to be stressful.
Parking and Getting into the New Terminal at Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport now uses a new P-number parking system, with numbers ranging from P1 to P16.
You can use an online Manchester Airport parking booking platform to secure your parking in advance, whether it’s short, mid, or long-term stays. Advanced booking reduces pre-flight stress, especially if you’re travelling with prams, luggage, and children filled with crazy holiday excitement. Just enter your terminal, arrival date and time, and how many people you’re travelling with, and you’ll see all available parking options and prices.
The T2 Meet & Greet (signposted P1) is the best option for families. You park your car as close as you can and hand in your keys. Terminal 2 is only a one-minute walk away.
At T3, the service is called Drop & Go, signposted P16.
Make Checking In Simple For Families
Check in online if your airline allows it. Families travelling with only hand luggage can go straight through to security if checked in online.
For checked-in bags, you can use self-service check-in kiosks. The process is easy, or you can use the check-in desks if you prefer. In T2, the main check-in desks are on the upper level, and in T3, they’re on the ground floor.
You may also benefit from Twilight Bag Drop, which lets you drop your bags at the airport the evening before an early morning flight.
Current participating airlines include:
- T2: Virgin Atlantic, TUI, Jet2 and easyJet
- T3: Ryanair
You get one hour of free parking at the T2 West Multi-Storey, P3 car park if you use the Twilight Bag Drop service. Just make sure to check the airline’s terms and conditions for bag drop off Twilight Bag Drop off times.
Available Security Passes and Information
Security FastTrack starts at £5.49 per person. Children generally need their own pass, but infants under three can go for free.
Manchester also offers TimeSlot, which lets you reserve a specific security-entry period; the airport currently lists it as free or up to £4.99 per person, depending on availability. Both are great for families.
Laptops, tablets and liquids can stay inside hand luggage, which should make security substantially easier when supervising children, but the 100ml liquid restriction still applies. There are exemptions for baby milk, baby food and sterilised water needed for the journey. UK rules also permit breast milk in individual containers of up to 2 litres.
Pushchairs, buggies and other children’s equipment may require extra screening, so keep essentials somewhere easy to reach and allow additional time. Check with the airline about when you need to hand over the buggy.
Overall, Manchester Airport is a great airport for family travel. From the moment you arrive, everything from parking to check-in and security is family-friendly. With the right planning, the airport doesn’t need to be a stressful start to your holiday.