Flights
Flights to Manchester, United Kingdom
Flying to Manchester for a game, a concert or a show? The airport you pick decides the rest of the trip more than the fare usually does. This page lists the 4 airports with scheduled flights near Manchester, how far each is from the centre and which is nearest each of the city's main venues. StubOrder lists 220 upcoming events in and around Manchester (counted Sep 24, 2026); fares are searched live when you pick your dates.
The closest airport to central Manchester is Manchester Airport (MAN), 8.6 miles away. Also within 59 miles: LPL (27 mi), LBA (36 mi), EMA (59 mi). For Co-Op Live, the nearest is MAN at 9.7 miles.
Airports serving Manchester
Nearest first. Distances are straight-line from the centre of Manchester, which is the fair way to compare airports with each other; the drive is always longer.
| Airport and distance from the centre | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester Airport (MAN) 8.6 mi (14 km) | Large | Nearest to Co-Op Live, Etihad Stadium, AO Arena, O2 Apollo Manchester, Old Trafford, Aviva Studios and King Georges Hall. |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) 27 mi (43 km) | Large | — |
| Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) 36 mi (58 km) | Large | Nearest to Turf Moor. |
| East Midlands Airport (EMA) 59 mi (94 km) | Large | — |
Nearest airport to each Manchester venue
The busiest venues in and around Manchester, each with its own nearest airport. A stadium in the suburbs is often nearer a different airport than downtown is, so this is the table to book from.
| Venue | Nearest airport we list | Second option |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Op Live Hotels near Co-Op Live | MAN, 9.7 mi | LPL, 29 mi |
| Etihad Stadium Hotels near Etihad Stadium | MAN, 9.3 mi | LPL, 29 mi |
| AO Arena Hotels near AO Arena | MAN, 9.4 mi | LPL, 27 mi |
| O2 Apollo Manchester Hotels near O2 Apollo Manchester | MAN, 8.3 mi | LPL, 28 mi |
| Old Trafford Hotels near Old Trafford | MAN, 7.6 mi | LPL, 25 mi |
| Turf Moor Hotels near Turf Moor | LBA, 24 mi | MAN, 30 mi |
| Aviva Studios Hotels near Aviva Studios | MAN, 8.6 mi | LPL, 26 mi |
| King Georges Hall Hotels near King Georges Hall | MAN, 29 mi | LPL, 32 mi |
- Turf Moor is nearer LBA (24 mi) than MAN (30 mi).
Best airport for most Manchester events
Each upcoming event in and around Manchester counted against the first airport we list for its venue, as of Sep 24, 2026. More than one airport is first for a real share of them, so the right one depends on where you are going.
| Airport | Share of events | Of the busiest venues |
|---|---|---|
| MAN | 7 of 8, including Co-Op Live | |
| LBA | 1 of 8, including Turf Moor |
Venue by airport
Straight-line miles from each of the busiest venues to each airport; the nearest is in bold.
| Venue | MAN | LPL | LBA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Op Live | 9.7 mi | 29 mi | 34 mi |
| Etihad Stadium | 9.3 mi | 29 mi | 35 mi |
| AO Arena | 9.4 mi | 27 mi | 35 mi |
| O2 Apollo Manchester | 8.3 mi | 28 mi | 36 mi |
| Old Trafford | 7.6 mi | 25 mi | 38 mi |
| Turf Moor | 30 mi | 40 mi | 24 mi |
| Aviva Studios | 8.6 mi | 26 mi | 36 mi |
| King Georges Hall | 29 mi | 32 mi | 35 mi |
Flying in for a Manchester event
In the next 30 days (counted Sep 24, 2026): 39 events in and around Manchester; 46% on Fri–Sun; 27 of the 35 with a set time start at 7 pm or later, local time.
Fly in the day before an evening event: a delayed afternoon flight is a missed show. Plan to fly home the morning after, because the last departures of the night often leave before a late finish lets out. The dates below set the search to do exactly that, around each event.
Niall Horan
Co-Op Live, Manchester, Manchester
From about $52.00View TicketsRoger Taylor
Manchester Opera House, Manchester, Manchester
From about $126.00View TicketsSolomun
Depot Mayfield, Manchester, Manchester
Megan Moroney
O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, Manchester
From about $105.00View TicketsElla Mai
O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, Manchester
From about $103.00View TicketsFreya Ridings
Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Manchester
From about $86.00View TicketsJill Scott
O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, Manchester
From about $118.00View TicketsSimple Plan
O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester, Manchester
Search flights for:
- Sep 25: Niall Horan
- Sep 26: Megan Moroney
- Sep 28: Ella Mai
- Sep 30: Freya Ridings
- Oct 1: Jill Scott
- Oct 2: Simple Plan
- Oct 6: Serena Terry
- Oct 7: Matt Hansen
Flying in to Manchester: checklist
- Book the airport for your venue. For Co-Op Live it is MAN, 9.7 miles away; the table above has the rest.
- Arrive the day before an evening event, and plan the flight home for the next morning.
- Names exactly as on the ID. The airline compares the booking with the ID at the airport.
- Check the bag allowance. It is shown on every fare; extra bags are not part of the fare price.
Plan the rest of the trip
Frequently asked questions
How many airports serve Manchester?
StubOrder lists 4 airports with scheduled passenger flights within 100 km (62 miles) of central Manchester: Manchester Airport (MAN), Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL), Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) and East Midlands Airport (EMA).
Which Manchester venues are closer to LBA?
Of the busiest Manchester venues, Turf Moor (24 mi, against 30 mi to MAN) is nearer LBA than MAN in a straight line. Fares differ by date, so compare both when you search.
Are fares shown on this page?
No. Airline fares change by the minute and depend on your exact dates, airports and travellers, so this page shows none. Pick your dates in the search form and StubOrder asks the airlines live; every fare it shows is the total for all travellers, taxes and fees included.
How many events are in Manchester in the next 30 days?
39 in and around Manchester in the 30 days from Sep 24, 2026, when this page's figures were counted. 46% of them fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, and 27 of the 35 with a set start time begin at 7 pm or later, local time.
How far is MAN from central Manchester?
Manchester Airport (MAN) is 8.6 miles (14 km) from central Manchester in a straight line. The drive is always longer than the straight line, and the roads near the venues are busiest at event times, so allow more than a map suggests.
Which airport is nearest most Manchester venues?
Manchester Airport (MAN) is the first airport we list for the venues holding 91% of upcoming events in and around Manchester (as of Sep 24, 2026); LBA for 9%. Distances are straight lines from each venue.
What is the closest airport to Manchester?
Manchester Airport (MAN) is the closest airport with scheduled flights to central Manchester, 8.6 miles away in a straight line. StubOrder also lists LPL (27 miles), LBA (36 miles) and EMA (59 miles).
Can I buy event tickets and flights together?
Not as one purchase. Event tickets come from our resale marketplace and flights from our travel partner and the airlines, as separate bookings with separate confirmations. Neither depends on the other, so if an event moves, your flight does not change automatically.
Which airport is best for Etihad Stadium?
The closest airport to Etihad Stadium is Manchester Airport (MAN), 9.3 miles away in a straight line; Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is 29 miles. Fares differ by date, so compare both when you search.
Which airport is best for Co-Op Live?
The closest airport to Co-Op Live is Manchester Airport (MAN), 9.7 miles away in a straight line; Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL) is 29 miles. Fares differ by date, so compare both when you search.
