Runway 05L/23R at Manchester Airport (MAN) closed on the afternoon of 15 December 2o25, resulting in significant delays for passengers as the airport was only able to operate a single runway whilst engineers repaired a defect on the runway’s surface.
MAN Down to One Runway
The runway closed due to a surface failure, which was further exacerbated by adverse weather. A Moderate Rainfall warning was issued by the Met Office for the North East of England, as well as in multiple other locations across the UK. Additionally, National Highways warned of flooding on the M56 road near Manchester Airport following heavy rainfall in the area on the morning of 15 December. With a combination of poor weather and urgent repair works, some passengers faced delays of up to six hours from their original departure time.
Runway 05L/23R is Manchester Airport’s primary runway, which is in operation for 24 hours a day except during maintenance. A defect arose on the surface of the taxiway, despite the airport’s scheduled maintenance and repairs. Engineers needed to close the runway to aircraft while the repairs were carried out. In a statement to the BBC, Manchester Airport stated that “low visibility” was to blame for the delays, as well as “an issue” on its taxiway. According to Manchester Evening News, the runway was closed to aircraft at 09:17 local time. Runway repairs finished at 12:27 local time, although the airport still braced for following flights to be delayed by a knock-on effect of the earlier closure and disruption.
Passengers Urged to Check Flight Status with Airlines
Despite the delays extending into the early afternoon and evening, with an average delay of around one hour from 16:00 local time onwards, passengers have been urged to check with their airline for any updates regarding their flight, and to arrive at Manchester Airport on time for their original flight departure time. Passengers on any disrupted flight are also encouraged to speak with their airline’s customer services department for information regarding refunds and compensation such as food and drink vouchers.
Flights were cancelled for many of Manchester Airport’s airlines, with easyJet alone being forced to cancel around a dozen flights, affecting an estimated 2,000 passengers. The disruption comes as the airport is preparing for its “biggest Christmas yet” between 19 December and 4 January, when more than 1.5 million passengers are expected to travel through Manchester Airport.
Were you or someone you know affected by the runway closure at Manchester Airport? Let us know in the comments.
