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Flying soon and wondering how to get to Manchester Airport? We are here to help!
Manchester Airport is one of the largest in the United Kingdom and with so many flights available, a lot of people choose it as their departure airport for their holidays
⏱️ IN A RUSH? Here is what you need to know
1️⃣ Train from Piccadilly (Budget Friendly & Quick)
2️⃣ Tram to the Airport (Budget friendly but long)
3️⃣ Bus 43 (Cheap but long)
4️⃣ Uber (Practical)
5️⃣ Taxi (Practical)
There are many different ways to go to Manchester airport from the city centre. In this article, we tell you everything you need know and will give you tips to make your journey easier and cheaper.
1. Train from Piccadilly Station to Manchester Airport (Best Option)
The train is the best, cheapest and quickest way to get to the airport from Manchester city centre.
They run every 10 minutes from Manchester Piccadilly and will bring you to the airport in less than 20 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that the trains are on every day of the week so it’s very practical.
Several companies operate these trains including Virgin and Transpennine, which makes the ticket price range from £2.50 to £10.
In order to get the best price, it’s recommended to check the trains on Trainline.
Trainline will show you all the options and departure times so you can choose the train that suits you the most in terms of time and price.
It also makes it super easy to book on the app and you can use the QR code at the train station. No need to go and get an actual ticket.
Alternatively, you can also get a ticket from the station. Just make sure you get there a bit earlier in case there is a queue at the machines.
💡 PRO TIP: The trains to the airport usually leave from platform 13 which is quite far in the station. It takes a good 5 to 10 minutes to get there so make sure to get to the station early enough.
2. Tram to Manchester Airport
The tram to Altrincham stops at the airport too and cost between £1.40 and £4.60 depending on where you take it from.
Although it does bring you straight to the airport, it is important to note that it’s a longer journey from the city centre compared to the train.
It takes about an hour from Market Street.
If you take it from the city centre, you will need a 4-zone ticket but if you have a contactless card, you can simply tap on and tap off at the machines outside the tram.
3. Bus 43 to Manchester Airport
The bus 43 goes from Piccadilly Gardens to Manchester Airport. It costs around £4 and takes about 1h.
If you are in the city centre, this wouldn’t be the best way to go to the airport, however, if you are in Rusholme, Fallowfields, Withington or pretty much anywhere in south Manchester, this will be the best way!
It runs all night which means that even if you need to be at the airport at 5 am, you will be able to take it.
Please note that between midnight and 5 am it only runs every 30mins (keep that in mind to plan your journey). During the day, it runs every 10 mins.
4. Uber to Manchester Airport
If you have the Uber app (or Bolt), you can book a ride to the airport. It takes about 30 minutes and will cost around £30 (it can be more or less depending on the time of the day you take it).
Please note that there is actually a surcharge for airport drop off since Manchester airport charges £6 for that.
If you want to save a few pounds, you can set the free drop off point at the airport as a destination instead of the terminal itself.
From there, there are free shuttles that will bring you to the terminal.
5. Taxi to Manchester Airport
StreetCars has a fleet of official black cab taxis that can bring you to the airport. They charge between £20 and £40 from the city centre.
They can take up to 6 passengers and you can pay with your bank card.
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