Manchester Airport Terminal 1 Closure: What Travelers Need to Know

After 64 years of service, Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1 has finally closed. The terminal that opened in 1962 ceased operations in late 2025, with large sections familiar since the 1960s shutting their doors after the last easyJet flight from Antalya landed. All non-Ryanair traffic has shifted to the revamped Terminal 2, while Ryanair operates a hybrid arrangement from Terminal 3 ahead of a full move in early 2026.

Status: Closed · Ryanair Location: Terminal 3 · Other Airlines: Terminal 2 · Transformation: £1.3bn programme

Key operational metrics for Manchester Airport’s transition to a two-terminal operation are summarised below.

Why is Terminal 1 closing at Manchester Airport?

Terminal 1 opened in 1962, serving travellers for 64 years before its closure marked the end of an era at Manchester Airport. The shutdown is part of a sweeping transformation programme called MAN-TP, unveiled in 2015, which calls for a 10-year, £1.3bn overhaul of the airport’s facilities. The Manchester Airport Media Centre confirmed that the closure represents “the start of a new chapter” after large sections familiar since the 1960s closed their doors.

Background on the closure

The transformation aims to consolidate operations into two modern terminals rather than maintaining three. Terminal 2 has more than doubled in size as part of this overhaul, with its first phase opening in 2021 and the full footprint made available to the public in 2025. More than 2,000 signs across the airport have been changed to reflect the new terminal configuration, according to Secret Manchester.

Impact on passengers

For passengers, the shift means navigating a different terminal layout than what returning travellers may remember. Emirates and easyJet were among the final airlines to move to Terminal 2, completing their relocations in the same week that sections of Terminal 1 closed after the last easyJet flight from Antalya. The airport has deployed clear signage and staff assistance to help travellers adjust.

What airlines use Terminal 1 at Manchester?

Terminal 1 has now fully closed, making Manchester Airport a two-terminal operation for the first time in over 30 years. The airports of the future will be divided between Terminal 2 (the main hub for most carriers) and Terminal 3 (dedicated to Ryanair with ongoing expansion into former Terminal 1 space).

Current status post-closure

All airlines except Ryanair now operate exclusively from Terminal 2, which handles approximately 75% of the airport’s 32 million annual passengers. Airlines that have relocated include Aer Lingus, Luxair, Finnair, British Airways, Loganair, Icelandair, Air Transat, Gulf Air, Norse Atlantic Airways, SAS, Turkish Airlines, Etihad, Emirates, and easyJet.

Relocated airlines

The Manchester Airport official site confirms that Emirates and easyJet were the final carriers to complete their moves to Terminal 2, marking a major milestone in the airport’s transition. The consolidation means passengers flying with any airline other than Ryanair should proceed directly to Terminal 2 for their departures.

The implication: non-Ryanair passengers now share a single departure hub for the first time in over three decades.

Is Ryanair at Manchester Terminal 1 or 3?

Ryanair occupies a unique position at Manchester Airport. The carrier operates from a hybrid of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 until the full closure of Terminal 1 early next year, according to the Manchester Airport Media Centre. This arrangement is distinct from every other airline at the airport.

Ryanair operations details

For travellers flying with Ryanair, departures are handled through Terminal 1 (specifically Departures A), while arrivals come into Terminal 3. Terminal 3 is dedicated to Ryanair and is undergoing expansion into space from the closed Terminal 1 areas. The airport has confirmed that Terminal 3 food and retail outlets remain open for Ryanair passengers, and WHSmith in Terminal 3 Arrivals operates from 07:00 to 23:00.

Can you still fly from Terminal 1 in Manchester?

No — large sections of Terminal 1 closed in late 2025 after the last easyJet flight from Antalya, and the terminal will fully cease operations when Ryanair completes its transition to Terminal 3 in early 2026. The Business Desk reports that Terminal 1 has finally closed, with only Ryanair using Terminal 3.

Current flying options

Travellers flying from Manchester Airport now have two options: Terminal 2 for all airlines except Ryanair, and Terminal 3 for Ryanair departures (with arrivals also at T3). Shops and restaurants in Terminal 1 have closed, but Terminal 3 retains food and retail outlets for Ryanair passengers, with Pret a Manger set to open in Terminal 3 Arrivals in December 2025.

Manchester Airport Terminal 1 departures and arrivals

With Terminal 1 now closed, departure and arrival procedures have shifted significantly. Terminal 2 serves as the primary hub, handling roughly three-quarters of all passenger traffic, while Terminal 3 accommodates Ryanair’s operations with its own arrival and departure facilities.

Pick up and drop off

Pick-up arrangements have changed to reflect the new terminal configuration. The Manchester Airport official site advises that passengers should confirm their arrival terminal before arranging collection, as Terminal 1 pick-up points are no longer operational. All non-Ryanair arrivals now come through Terminal 2, while Ryanair arrivals are directed to Terminal 3.

Postcode and map

While the terminal itself has closed, the physical Terminal 1 building remains on the airport campus and will eventually be incorporated into the expanded Terminal 3 footprint as part of the £1.3bn redevelopment. The Manchester Airport Media Centre notes that Terminal 1 and 3 are joined in places, and expansion work is already underway into the former Terminal 1 space.

What people are saying

All you have to remember now is that if you’re flying with Ryanair you’ll be flying from Terminal 3 and if you’re flying with anyone else, you’re going from Terminal 2.

— Manchester Airport (Official Statement via Secret Manchester)

Ryanair is now the only carrier that will operate from a hybrid of Terminal 1 and 3 until the full closure of Terminal 1 early next year.

— Manchester Airport Media Centre (Official Release)

The end of an era for Terminal 1.

— Secret Manchester (Publication Headline)

Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 has emerged as the centrepiece of the £1.3bn transformation, described by the airport as a “super-terminal” that now handles the overwhelming majority of travellers. The shift means passengers flying with carriers like Emirates, British Airways, and easyJet now share the same departure facility — a notable consolidation for an airport that once split operations across three terminals. For Ryanair passengers, the hybrid T1/T3 arrangement adds a layer of complexity that the airport has sought to address through signage and dedicated staff support.

Related reading: EasyJet U22768 Emergency Diversion · Schengen Visa From UK

Travelers facing the Terminal 1 shutdown can turn to this Terminal 1 guide after closure for insights into repurposed facilities, airline shifts and updated navigation since November 2025.

Frequently asked questions