⚠️ Reference & Statistical Notice: Data presented on RunwayFacts is compiled from public domain aviation registries for technical comparison and research. Not for flight planning or real-time operational aviation use.
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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

Manchester Airport

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England (United Kingdom)
IATA: MAN ICAO: EGCC
Longest Active Runway
10,007 ft
3,050 meters
Field Elevation
257 ft
78 m MSL
Runway Inventory
2 active
Lighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
53.3494°, -2.2795°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

Ranking Universes Guide →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
#546 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#903 of 7558
Top 12.0% percentile worldwide
National Standing (United Kingdom)
#4 in GB
#5 of 94 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+0.1%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 Statistical Statement: Manchester Airport's longest active runway measures 10,007 ft (3,050 m). Within RunwayFacts' published index of 650 aerodromes, it ranks #546. Across the broader global dataset of 7558 commercial facilities, it ranks #903 worldwide (Top 12.0%) and #4 nationally in United Kingdom.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: Manchester Airport (MAN)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

Manchester Airport serves as the central aviation spine for the North of England. Its parallel runway system provides essential capacity separation, with Runway 2 providing 10,500 ft of concrete surface engineered for heavy twin-aisle widebodies. Positioned in the Cheshire Plain, MAN contends with moist Atlantic westerly airflow, utilizing advanced Category III ILS and dedicated de-icing bays to preserve winter schedule integrity.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Dual parallel staggered runways 05L/23R (10,000 ft / 3,048 m) and 05R/23L (10,500 ft / 3,200 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
Opened in 1938 as Ringway Airport, serving as an RAF parachute training base in WWII. Commissioned Runway 2 (05R/23L) in 2001 following major public environmental inquiries, establishing the UK's only dual-runway commercial system outside London.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Primary northern England long-haul gateway, offering direct intercontinental flights to the US, Middle East, and Asia that eliminate feeder trips through London.
Data Nuances & Operational Quirks
Runway 05R/23L operates on restricted hours during off-peak and winter periods, with nighttime single-runway operations channeled onto 05L/23R for noise mitigation.
📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) · NATS Aeronautical Information Service (UK AIP Aerodromes)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Comparative aviation metrics evaluated against regional and global physical operational criteria.
ICAO Code 4D / 4E Heavy Intercontinental
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Elevation & Atmospheric Density

Lowland / Coastal Basin Aerodrome

Manchester Airport operates at a surveyed field elevation of 257 ft (78 m MSL) in Manchester, Greater Manchester. Situated in low-lying coastal terrain, the aerodrome benefits from dense ambient atmospheric pressure, maximizing turbine engine thrust and wing lift efficiency across all departure vectors.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

1 Qualifying Aerodrome in Vicinity

Primary northern England long-haul gateway, offering direct intercontinental flights to the US, Middle East, and Asia that eliminate feeder trips through London. Within a 100 NM radius, the facility coordinates airspace flows with 1 qualifying commercial aerodromes, with Birmingham Airport (BHX) located 57.1 NM away.

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Fleet Compatibility & Ground Roll

Primary Runway: 10,007 ft (3,050 m)

Manchester Airport's active flight strips comprise 05R/23L (10,007 ft), 05L/23R (10,000 ft). With a longest active threshold of 10,007 ft (3,050 m), the primary runway accommodates transcontinental twin-engine widebodies and long-range narrowbody airliners at standard operational weights.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
05R/23L 10,007 ft (3050m) 148 ft (45m) Concrete (CON) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active
05L/23R 10,000 ft (3048m) 148 ft (45m) Asphalt (ASP) ✅ Lighted ✅ Active

🧭 Comparative Aerodromes (100 NM Radius, ≥5,000 ft Paved)

Great-circle Haversine spatial proximity matching for commercial facilities with paved runway capacity within 100 NM.

Aerodrome Name IATA Distance Longest Runway Lighting
Birmingham Airport (Birmingham, West Midlands) BHX 57.1 NM (105.7 km) 10,013 ft ✅ Lighted

🛡️ Data Provenance & Verification Metadata

Source Dataset: OurAirports Open Aviation Database
Snapshot Version: 2026-09-01
Dataset Integrity: Cryptographic SHA-256 Checksum Verified & Fail-Closed Schema Inspected
Source Verification: Source-reported registry data
Read Complete Methodology & Verification Protocol → GET /api/airport/man.json ↗