Manchester Airport expects more than one million October half-term passengers. Its 23 October 2026 release gives travel advice, while Manchester’s school calendar provides separate local context.
More than one million passengers expected
Manchester Airport expects more than one million passengers during the October half-term getaway, according to its release dated 23 October 2026. The announcement includes advice on check-in, assistance and hand baggage, but does not specify the exact dates covered by its half-term passenger forecast.
Manchester City Council separately lists most city schools as closing on 23 October and reopening on 2 November. Those school dates provide local context; they do not establish the airport’s forecast window.
Manchester Airport’s half-term passenger forecast
The airport’s 23 October announcement sets out an expected passenger total, rather than a count of journeys already completed. More than one million passengers are forecast for the October school-holiday getaway.
Alicante, Antalya, Tenerife and Malaga are among the destinations the airport highlights as expected leading choices. The announcement names those destinations without providing individual passenger totals in the information reported here.
Manchester school dates and the travel period
Manchester City Council’s school holidays and term dates, checked on 23 October 2026, list schools closing on Friday 23 October 2026 and reopening on Monday 2 November 2026.
The council says most Manchester schools follow these dates. Some voluntary-aided schools, foundation schools and academies may use different calendars, so the published timetable is not a substitute for an individual school’s dates.
Security figures and hand-baggage rules
Manchester Airport reports that 97% of passengers waited less than 15 minutes to reach security from the beginning of April 2026. That figure appears in its release dated 23 October 2026.
The same release says liquids must remain in containers holding 100ml or less. It also says passengers can leave liquids and electronic devices inside their hand baggage when passing through security.
Half-term travel advice: three checks before flying
The airport’s half-term travel advice includes three preparations involving the airline. Its 23 October 2026 release recommends the following:
- Check whether online check-in is available. Use it where the airline offers that option.
- Follow the airline’s arrival instructions.
- Arrange assistance ahead of departure. Passengers who need assistance should request it through their airline at least 48 hours before flying, according to the release.