Published 24 October 2026 | Updated 24 October 2026 by Kate Acaster
Manchester Airport Terminal 2 handles every airline on the airport’s list except Ryanair, which flies from Terminal 3. Flying easyJet, Jet2.com, TUI, British Airways or Virgin Atlantic means T2. Dropping off at the kerb costs £5.50 for five minutes and £25 for 30.
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Which airlines use Terminal 2, and which use Terminal 3
The airport’s own list puts 49 of its 50 airlines in Terminal 2 and Ryanair alone in Terminal 3, and Terminal 1 no longer appears on the list. Check your booking before you set off. If you’ve flown from another terminal before, the answer may have changed.
| Terminal | Airlines | Walk from the train station |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 2 | Every airline on the airport’s list except Ryanair. That includes easyJet, Jet2.com, TUI, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Qatar Airways, KLM and Aer Lingus | About 10 minutes |
| Terminal 3 | Ryanair only. Passengers use the Terminal 3 Departures entrance, which was previously Terminal 1 Departures A | About 5 minutes |
Getting to Terminal 2 by train
The station is close to both terminals. It’s about a 10-minute walk to Terminal 2, with lifts, escalators and moving walkways on the way. Trains to Manchester Piccadilly take around 20 minutes and run every 10 minutes. The first train to the city centre leaves at 04:12 and the last service leaves at 01:34.
The forecourts have no barriers, so you pay online after you leave.
Terminal 2 drop-off charges
The airport runs two forecourt levels at Terminal 2. The upper forecourt is next to the main check-in hall. The lower forecourt is on the Arrivals level, with lifts to Departures and a 2.0m height restriction. The airport caps stays at 30 minutes.
| Time at the kerb | Price |
|---|---|
| Up to 5 minutes | £5.50 |
| Up to 10 minutes | £6.50 |
| Up to 30 minutes (the maximum) | £25 |
You can’t pay at the kerb. Pay online or by phone after you’ve left, by midnight the following day. Miss it and a Parking Charge Notice of £100 follows, cut to £60 if you pay within 14 days. The airport also charges £100 to anyone who picks up passengers in the drop-off zone.
- Free option: the free drop-off area is the JetParks 1 car park, with a 24/7 shuttle bus to your terminal that takes about six minutes. The shuttle is one-way, from the car park to the terminal. Blue Badge holders can use the forecourts free for drop-off only, and show their badge to marshals on entry.
- Collecting someone: the Terminal 2 Express Pick Up follows the signs for P3, allows 15 minutes and costs £6.60. Overstay and there’s a £60 charge. For longer, it suggests parking on the first or second floor of that car park.
Terminal 2 parking
The airport lists eight options for Terminal 2, from Meet and Greet at the terminal door to Mid Stay 10 to 15 minutes away. Turning up costs far more than booking ahead. For four days in the Multi Storey, the airport shows £77 pre-booked and £239.20 on the day. Our guide to how far in advance to book airport parking covers why the advance price is so much lower.
| Car park | Pre-book from | Walk to the terminal |
|---|---|---|
| Meet and Greet (P1) | £82.99 for 8 days (minimum 4-day stay) | 1 to 3 minutes |
| Premium (P2) | £149 for 8 days | 1 to 2 minutes |
| Multi Storey | £77 for 4 days, £239.20 on the day | 4 to 5 minutes |
| Park and Walk (P4) | £68 for 4 days | 4 to 6 minutes |
| Drop and Go (P16) | £59.99 for 8 days | 5 minutes |
| JetParks | £54.99 for 8 days | 5 to 10 minutes |
| Mid Stay | £79 for 8 days | 10 to 15 minutes |
| Drop and Go Express (P10) | £62.99 for 8 days | 12 to 15 minutes |
Barrierless parking is now in operation at the Terminal 2 West Multi Storey (P3), so the same pay-after-you-leave rule applies there.
The airport puts the walk between the two terminals at 5 to 15 minutes.
Lounges at Terminal 2
The airport lists two lounges at Terminal 2. The Escape Lounge is open to any airline and ticket class. The Executive by Escape Lounges is new, with premium drinks and seasonal dishes served all day. The airport also sells aether, a private service with its own security screening and chauffeur-driven car, and doesn’t say where it sits. Terminal 3’s Escape Lounge is for Ryanair passengers only, from £31.99 a head against £36.99 at T2.
| Lounge | Price from | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Escape Lounge, Terminal 2 | £36.99 pre-booked, £55 walk-up | Open to any airline and ticket class. Past security, through Duty Free, on the mezzanine. Children under 3 free. Groups over 8 not allowed from May to October |
| The Executive by Escape Lounges | £57.99 | New in Terminal 2. Enter 2.5 hours before departure, for a stay of up to 2 hours |
| aether, the private terminal | £199 | Open to all airline passengers. Private security, a chauffeur-driven car to your gate and runway views |
Priority Pass and DragonPass cardholders can reserve an Escape Lounge space for a fee, and bring up to three guests, subject to availability. Our Priority Pass discount guide covers the card side.
Changing between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3
There’s no airside transfer between the two terminals. You pass through the UK Border, collect your hold luggage, walk over and check in and go through security again. The airport puts the walk at 5 to 15 minutes. Ryanair doesn’t offer a transfer service, so booking Ryanair with another airline on separate tickets means doing all of this yourself.
- Terminal 2 itself has two Flight Transfer Centres. They let passengers on a single ticket connect without leaving the secure area, with bags checked through. Not every airline takes part, so ask yours.
“Anyone seeing you off wants to walk you in, and that’s the trap. A proper goodbye costs more than four times a quick one. I’d keep the forecourt for the quick one, or park if there’s a coffee involved.”
Kate Acaster, Chief Editor, Flight Tribe
What to check before you set off
- Confirm the terminal on your booking. Ryanair is Terminal 3, everyone else on the airport’s list is Terminal 2.
- Pay any drop-off or pick-up charge online by midnight the next day, once you’ve left the zone.
- Pre-book parking and the Escape Lounge. The airport shows £77 against £239.20 on the day for four days in the Multi Storey, and £36.99 against £55 for the lounge.
- Allow up to 15 minutes to walk between terminals, and about 10 from the train station to Terminal 2.
- Read how early to arrive at the airport for check-in timing.
- Weigh up whether airport fast track is worth it before you pay for security.
Prices and terminal allocations come from Manchester Airport’s own pages, October 2026. They change, so check the airport’s page before you travel.
More on getting to the airport
- Heading abroad by car? See whether you need to book an airport transfer in advance.
- Buying a lounge pass? Read the Priority Pass discount guide.
Manchester Airport Terminal 2 FAQs
Which airlines use Manchester Airport Terminal 2?
Every airline on the airport’s list except Ryanair, including easyJet, Jet2.com, TUI, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Does Ryanair fly from Terminal 2 at Manchester?
No. Ryanair uses Terminal 3, the only airline there. Its passengers check in at that building’s own Departures entrance.
How much is drop-off at Manchester Airport Terminal 2?
£5.50 for up to five minutes, £6.50 for up to 10 and £25 for up to 30, which is the maximum. You pay online by midnight the next day.
Is there free drop-off at Manchester Airport?
Yes. The free drop-off area is the JetParks 1 car park, with a 24/7 shuttle bus to the terminal that takes about six minutes, one way. Blue Badge holders can also use the forecourts free for drop-off.
How far is Terminal 2 from the train station?
About a 10-minute walk, with lifts, escalators and moving walkways on the way. Terminal 3 is about five minutes.
Can I walk between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3?
Yes, in 5 to 15 minutes. There’s no airside transfer between them, so you clear the UK Border, collect your bags, check in again and go through security.
Does Manchester Airport still have a Terminal 1?
No. The airport’s list shows only T2 and T3. The T3 Departures entrance was previously called Terminal 1 Departures A.
Kate Acaster is Chief Editor at Flight Tribe. She writes about practical travel planning, budget airlines, baggage rules, city breaks, beach holidays and good hotels that do not cost daft money.
Kate has travelled through Europe, South America and beyond, usually with a notebook, a half-formed plan and a strong opinion on airport snacks. At Flight Tribe, her work focuses on helping UK travellers understand what is included, what costs extra, and whether a trip is worth booking at the price shown.
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