Manchester Airport drivers and passengers are being warned to allow extra time when travelling to Terminal 1, after temporary changes to the pick-up arrangements created heavy congestion and knock-on disruption across the site.
From Tuesday 27 August 2025, the Terminal 1 pick-up and short-stay car park was moved around 100 yards from its previous location. While the shift may sound minor, drivers say it is causing chaos for anyone heading to T1, with delays now spilling over into Terminal 3 and the surrounding roundabouts.
A driver contacted DM News to share their experience:
“It’s causing knock-on effects to T1 drop-off and the rest of the airport including Terminal 3. Terminal 2 doesn’t seem too much affected since it’s on the other side of the airport, but the roundabouts leading to T1 and T3 are causing huge delays.”
Knock-On Impact Across the Airport
- T1 pick-up area relocation – now a short distance from the original site, leading to confusion and tailbacks.
- T3 delays – as the same access roads and roundabouts are used, drivers say traffic jams are spilling over into Terminal 3.
- T2 less affected – due to its location on the opposite side of the airport, though wider congestion is still being reported on the road network.
Advice for Travellers and Drivers
Anyone planning to collect or drop off passengers at Manchester Airport should:
- Leave plenty of extra time – especially if travelling at peak hours.
- Follow new signage carefully – the relocation of the car park has altered traffic flow.
- Check airport updates online – Manchester Airport is advising passengers to monitor its website and social channels for changes.
- Consider using Terminal 2 – where congestion appears less severe.
Background
The disruption comes just months after Manchester Airport introduced a new ANPR barrierless system across all its terminals and car parks in April 2025. The system, designed to improve traffic flow, replaced barriers with automatic number plate recognition technology.
However, these latest temporary changes to T1’s pick-up area appear to have created fresh problems, with drivers calling on the airport to resolve the congestion quickly.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, story, or anything you’d like to say, head over to DriverMatty.com — I’d love to hear from you! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
