Power Outage Leads to Chaos at Manchester Airport, Impacting Summer Travel Plans
Manchester Airport is experiencing significant flight delays and cancellations due to a major power cut that occurred in the early hours of the morning. The disruption has caused widespread issues affecting flights from Terminals 1 and 2, with the airport operator releasing a statement at 06:30 BST detailing the extent of the problem.
The power cut has already led to the cancellation of several flights, with more expected to be affected throughout the day. Passengers scheduled to fly from Terminal 3 are advised to proceed to the airport as usual unless otherwise instructed by their airline, although delays are still possible. Priority is being given to passengers already at the airport as staff work diligently to address the backlog.
The disruption comes at the beginning of the summer holiday season, impacting numerous travelers. Bobbi Hadgraft, a passenger heading to Euro 2024, described “enormous queues” outside Terminal 1 when she arrived at around 04:00 BST. The power outage affected display boards and scanners, forcing staff to manually direct passengers. Social media users have also reported long waits at check-in desks and passport control, citing a lack of communication from airport staff during the chaotic situation.
The power outage, which occurred at approximately 01:30 BST, also affected nearby businesses, including major logistics firms. Although electricity has been restored, airport systems are taking time to fully recover. An airport source noted that the power cut “literally knocked everything off,” highlighting the extensive nature of the disruption.
Images and videos on social media show long queues of passengers, some waiting in near darkness. The airport has acknowledged the difficulties faced by travelers and is working to restore normal operations as quickly as possible. Passengers are advised to stay informed through airline updates and to prepare for potential delays.
As Manchester Airport deals with the aftermath of this major power cut, passengers are urged to remain patient and check for updates regularly. The situation underscores the importance of robust contingency plans to handle unexpected disruptions, particularly during peak travel seasons.