As much of the country shivered through snowstorms lasting throughout the week from the 4th January onwards, it seemed as if Manchester Airport escaped somewhat lightly compared to some other airports around the UK.
Their website was updated on Friday 8th January to tell people they had experienced no fresh snow since Tuesday 5th January. But while this was true of Manchester it certainly didn’t apply to other areas of the UK. This means that flights to and from Manchester Airport are still subject to delays and cancellations, depending on where they were heading to or coming from.
The airport is still coping with the effects of sub-zero temperatures, particularly at night. This alone can cause icy stretches but the runways have been kept clear and safe to allow planes to take off and land as normal.
There could still be issues for those people hoping to use public transport to reach Manchester Airport however. The latest information available on the morning of Friday 8th January was that there were no trains running between Newcastle and Manchester Airport. There are other options for completing a journey to the airport but extra time will need to be taken and alternative services could be busier due to the lack of alternatives.
It’s clear that additional time should be given for every journey at the moment. No fresh snow is on the way any time soon for this area but the existing snowfall and low temperatures could still create problems. As the temperatures fall each night any melting of snow turns to ice and we’re back to square one again.
The best place to go for information is the Manchester Airport website, which is currently displaying a prominent message regarding weather conditions there on its home page. It also includes links to departures and arrivals data, so you can keep up to date with any flight you choose.
The key point to remember is even though Manchester Airport is open for business as usual other airports may not be in the same situation. That’s why it pays to check where you are flying from or to as well as your flight information before doing anything. This should ensure you don’t have a wasted journey to the airport. The weather will eventually clear up but until it does no airport – including Manchester – can be 100% sure of giving a full service.