Manchester Airport is grappling with severe disruptions following a significant power cut that has forced the cancellation of all flights from Terminals 1 and 2. The outage, which occurred in the early hours, has severely impacted baggage and security systems, leading to widespread chaos for travelers.
An airport spokesman announced that all flights from Terminals 1 and 2 are cancelled “until further notice,” urging passengers to stay away from these terminals. The power cut has resulted in long queues inside the airport, with more than ten outbound flights already cancelled and inbound flights diverted to other airports.
Passengers scheduled to fly through Terminal 3 are advised to proceed to the airport as usual, though they should anticipate delays. The airport is prioritizing flights for those already present to address the backlog caused by the power outage.
The timing of the disruption is particularly impactful as it coincides with the start of the summer holiday season. Manchester Airport, the largest in the UK outside London, has apologized to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the outage.
The departure board at the airport shows a growing number of cancellations, which are expected to continue until at least mid-afternoon. A spokesman explained that inbound flights are being diverted because planes cannot take off due to limited space. This situation complicates the acceptance of new aircraft, necessitating their diversion to other locations.
Although backup power systems activated when the main system failed, the situation was exacerbated by multiple instances of mains power cutting out. Issues with baggage processing have resulted in airlines allowing passengers to board flights with cabin bags only.
Jet2 confirmed that handlers have been unable to load bags onto planes due to the outage. Similarly, Easyjet announced that passengers could only board their flights with cabin bags because of problems with the baggage system.
The airport’s spokesman emphasized that efforts are ongoing to resolve the issues and clear the backlog. However, the exact timeline for restoring normal operations remains uncertain.
As the situation develops, passengers are encouraged to stay updated through official airport communications and contact their airlines for the latest information on their flights. The airport is working diligently to address the disruption and minimize the impact on travelers during this busy travel season.