Passengers travelling through Manchester Airport have been advised to stay away after a “major” power cut disrupted a significant number of flights early this morning. The outage, which affected Terminals 1 and 2, has led to long queues, flight cancellations, and disruptions to baggage and security systems.
The power cut hit in the early hours, and although back-up power systems were activated, the situation was complicated by multiple mains power outages. As a result, the airport is struggling to process baggage and maintain regular operations.
An airport spokesperson explained that the priority is to work through the backlog of passengers already at the airport. “We are prioritising those who are already here and working to clear the backlog,” the spokesperson said.
Several airlines, including Jet2 and Easyjet, have announced that due to the power outage, they are unable to process checked baggage. Passengers are being told they can only board flights with cabin bags. Jet2 stated that handlers were unable to load bags onto planes, while Easyjet confirmed similar issues with their baggage system.
The disruption comes at the start of the summer holiday season, severely impacting travel plans at the UK’s third-busiest airport. An airport source described the power cut as having “literally knocked everything off,” affecting not only the airport but also nearby businesses, including major logistics firms.
Bobbi Hadgraft, a passenger travelling to watch England at Euro 2024, recounted her experience to BBC Radio Manchester. She arrived at the airport around 04:00 BST and encountered “enormous queues” outside Terminal 1. “We were worried we would miss our flight,” she said, noting that the power outage had affected display boards and scanners, forcing staff to manually direct passengers around the airport.
Passengers scheduled to fly via Terminal 3 have been advised to come to the airport as normal, though they may still face delays. The airport has apologised for the inconvenience caused and is working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible.
The power cut and subsequent disruption highlight the importance of robust contingency plans for critical infrastructure, especially during peak travel seasons. Passengers are encouraged to stay updated via official airport communications and contact their airlines for the latest information on their flights.