Manchester Airport experienced flight disruptions following a major power outage early Sunday morning, at the onset of the UK’s summer holiday season. Airport officials advised passengers to avoid the facility due to expected delays and operational setbacks.
The power failure led to extensive queues inside the airport, with some incoming flights being diverted to alternate locations, as reported by the BBC. Airport personnel prioritized the departure of passengers already present, focusing on clearing the accumulating backlog.
According to airport representatives, the unexpected outage impacted all systems. An airport source described it as having “literally knocked everything off.” The disruption extended to nearby businesses, including major logistics companies.
Passenger Bobbi Hadgraft expressed concerns about potentially missing her flight to Euro 2024 due to the outage, which disrupted essential services like display boards and scanners. Airport staff were forced to direct travellers manually, further complicating the situation.
Social media posts highlighted the frustration of many, pointing out the long lines at check-in and passport control and criticizing the lack of effective communication from airport staff amidst the chaos.
Despite the power being restored around 1:30 am BST, the airport announced that it would take some time to fully resume normal operations, as systems required rebooting and stabilization.
