History of Manchester airport

Manchester airport is an international airport located at Ringway, Manchester, England. Earlier also stated as the third busiest airport in the UK given the large number of passangers that travelled through this airport. Manchester airport covers the area of 56,000 acres and has flights to 199 destinations and is placed thirteenth globally for the number of destinations that can be reached through this airport.

Manchester airport has 22 Million passangers every year! The Duke of Edinburgh made the opening of this airport. It’s home to more than 60 airlines serving over 200 worldwide destinations. The airport employs around 19,000 people on site, whilst supporting an additional 42,500 jobs in the North West of England.

In 1928, it was decided that Barton would be the chosen space for an aerodrome, and by 1930, construction was complete. After 4 years, it was decided that the space was too small, so work started on the Ringway site, and on 25th June 1938, the second site was opened. This is what would become Manchester Airport. During the war, Ringway Airport became an aircraft manufacturing centre and acted as a parachutist training hub. They also had an additional 3 runways added.

After peacetime passenger services resumed, 1947 saw the amount of travellers almost triple in size to 34,000! This led to the expansion of terminal facilities that were built within the converted wartime building. By 1954, the airport had started 24 hour operation, extended the main runway further. In 1962, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh opened the new £2.7 million Terminal, which saw Manchester implement the first ‘pier’ system.

In 1988, they had already opened the World Freight Terminal, had another extension to the main runway and were now seeing over 1 million travellers a month; the ever growing popularity of Manchester Airport meant that it was time for a new terminal – and so in 1989, HRH The Princess of Wales opened the new Domestic Terminal – complete with parking and and dedicated check in services.

By 2015, Manchester Airport had acquired the London City, Bournemouth and East Midlands Airports, Making MAG (Manchester Airport Group) is the 3rd largest group in the UK, after more than 75 years of operation.