- Mr Plane Guy
- 6h
- 5 min read
Manchester Airport Terminal 1 Is Closing: What This Means for Terminal 3 and Ryanair Passengers
By Mr Plane Guy, Plane Travel News & Reviews with Altitude
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It keeps this blog flying high (and fuels my habit of buying overpriced airport lattes). Thanks for your support!
Manchester Airport has entered a new chapter as Terminal 1 begins its final shutdown, ending more than 60 years of service. With the last airlines now moved to the modernised Terminal 2, only Ryanair remains connected to Terminal 1 and even that setup is changing fast.
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Here’s what passengers need to know about Terminal 1’s closure, how Terminal 3 will operate going forward, and where the lounges, food and parking deals now sit in 2026.
A Personal Goodbye to Terminal 1
For me, this one hits differently. Manchester Airport Terminal 1 is where Mr Plane Guy was born.
I was just a kid in the late 1980s, flying on a Dan-Air Boeing 727, probably 1987 ish when I first stepped into the Terminal 1 concourse. I still remember staring up at those huge chandeliers, the tiny security corner tucked into the side of the concourse and that electric feeling that air travel was pure magic.
That day lit the spark that became my lifelong obsession with aviation and eventually this blog. So seeing Terminal 1 wind down now is quite 'emosh!'
Ryanair Becomes the Only Airline Linked to Terminal 1 & 3
With all legacy carriers now moved out, Ryanair is the sole to use Terminal 3, but the process is a little unusual:
Check-in: Terminal 1
Security: Terminal 1
Boarding: Terminal 3
This hybrid arrangement will continue until Terminal 1 fully closes in early 2026. After that, Terminal 3 becomes Ryanair’s permanent base.
Manchester Airport Lounge Access: What Changes Now?
With Terminal 1 closing, the lounge situation is clearer than ever.
Aspire Lounge (T1/T3)
For now, the Aspire Lounge Manchester remains open and accessible to passengers flying through the Terminal 1/T3 route.
Wayfinding (Terminal 1):
After security → through Duty Free → turn left → up the stairs → Aspire is the first lounge on the right.
Lounges at Manchester Airport
There’s no need to start your trip in the departure hall step into the calm before you fly.
Enjoy drinks, snacks, and Wi-Fi before your flight.
Priority Pass Access at Manchester Airport
Priority Pass gives you entry to over 1,800+ airport lounges worldwide, including of course Manchester Airport and Aspire Lounge in terminal 1.
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If you’ve ever wanted lounge access, this is the time to grab it.
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Terminal 3 Food, Restaurants & Shops (Updated 2026)
Terminal 3 continues to evolve as Ryanair’s operational home, with an improving list of Manchester Airport food and Manchester Airport restaurant options:
Costa Coffee
Brew’d
KFC
Pork & Pickle
The Lion and Antelope
Trattoria Milano
The Nook
Boots
Biza
WHSmith
More seating, new shops and refreshed dining areas are set to follow as the airport reworks the space left behind by Terminal 1’s closure.
Manchester Airport Parking, Save Up to 75%
Whether you're flying Ryanair from Terminal 3 or passing through Terminal 1 during its final months, booking airport parking early can save a small fortune.
🅿️ Check Live Airport Parking Deals Compare prices at Manchester and more often up to 75% cheaper than drive-up rates.
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Plane Related Manchester Airport Reads
Review Manchester Terminal 2 Airport Lounge 1903 (coming soon)
Review Aspire Lounge Manchester Terminal 2 (coming soon)
Is the Aspire Lounge in Manchester Airport Terminal 1 Worth the Visit?
Thanks for boarding this Manchester Airport update with me. If you love honest travel news, lounge reviews and luxury-for-less hacks, hop onto Plane News Weekly.
Hello, I’m Paul a professional jet-setter and all-around plane travel pro. After 15 years working in and around planes, I became a flight delay expert at a London Airport and mastered plane travel hacks, a PLANE flight expert with BIG travel plans but small carry-on.
Now, I share PLANE travel news, tips, reviews, and deals with honesty, humour, and zero baggage! Thanks for reading Manchester Airport Terminal 1 Is Closing: What This Means for Terminal 3 and Ryanair Passengers.
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