The airport is introducing a new barrierless sysstem for vehicles to ‘improve the overall experience for both drivers and passengers by streamlining the process”.
Bosses say by removing the existing barriers, drivers will pass through more smoothly without the need to stop on exit, helping reduce congestion and improving traffic flow.
The new technology will be managed through an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system. It will come into operation in late March 2025.
Cameras will identify cars by their registration number and automatically record who has used the pick-up or drop-off area. Rather than stopping at a barrier and paying as they leave the area, drivers will leave and then pay the charge by midnight the following day. They can do this over the phone or online.
READ MORE: UK best airport lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester
Manchester Airport: All the places you can fly to in 2025
There will be no change to the existing charges.
No payments will be made when exiting the area.
Sue West, Manchester Airport’s Landside Operations Director, said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re always looking for ways to make our passengers’ lives easier. By removing barriers in our drop-off and pick-up zones it will speed up the process and make it feel seamless.
“The barrierless system will be implemented across the various drop-off and pick-up areas around the airport in a phased approach over the last weeks of March and the start of April – exact dates will be communicated in the coming weeks.”
Frequent users, including taxi drivers, will be able to set up an auto-pay account for future visits – more information about this will be available in the coming weeks. There will be prominent signs in and around the forecourt areas to remind drivers of the new system once it is introduced.
