Manchester Airport
General Requirements
As of April 5, 2023, for passengers traveling to England, they are not required to complete a UK passenger locator form prior to their journey. They are also not obligated to undergo any COVID-19 tests before or after their arrival, regardless of their vaccination status. Furthermore, there is no mandatory quarantine period upon arrival, which applies to individuals who are transiting through England as well.
However, Manchester Airport still requires passengers to follow some COVID-19 guidelines.
- Face masks must be worn at all times in indoor public areas, including terminals, security checkpoints, and boarding gates.
- Social distancing of 1.5 meters is mandatory, unless traveling with immediate family.
- Hand hygiene, such as washing hands frequently or using hand sanitizer, is also expected.
- While vaccination is not obligated anymore, unvaccinated passengers may be asked to provide a negative COVID-19 test before traveling.
- Although not currently mandatory, it is highly recommended for passengers to have travel insurance to cover potential trip cancellations, lost luggage, or medical expenses in the UK.
For more information on Manchester Airport's COVID-19 requirements, passengers can visit the airport's website.
Layover Requirements
These requirements may vary depending on the destination country and the airline passengers are flying with. However, some general requirements include:
- Passport: Passengers must have a valid passport that is not due to expire within six months of their travel date.
- Visa: If a visa is required to enter the destination country, passengers must have obtained one before traveling.
- Negative COVID-19 test (if required): Certain countries mandate passengers to present a negative COVID-19 test result before allowing entry. Passengers should check the requirements for their destination country before traveling.
- Security clearance: Passengers will need to go through security screening before entering the secure airside (transit) area of the airport. This process involves removing shoes, belts, and jackets, and placing belongings in a tray for x-ray screening.
- Transfer between terminals: If the connecting flight departs from a different terminal, passengers may need to transfer between terminals. This can be accomplished by taking the free flight connections bus, which operates every few minutes between the terminals.
Situations
If passengers have a layover more than 24 hours, they may be permitted to exit the airport.
- Passengers will need to re-enter the secure airside (transit) area before their connecting flight.
- The duration of a layover allowed at Manchester Airport varies depending on the airline and destination. However, most airlines permit a layover of at least 4 hours.
If passengers have a layover less than 24 hours, they may be prohibited to exit the airport. This restriction is in place due to insufficient time to undergo security screening once again before their next flight. Nevertheless, passengers may have the option to remain within the public area of the airport, situated outside of the secure airside (transit) zone.