Designed as a twin-engine bomber and photo-reconnaissance aircraft, the Avro 533 was a development of the earlier 523 and 529A.

[2] The Avro 533A Manchester Mk II flew for the first time in December 1918 with flight testing continuing with No.

The aircraft was a large, and mainly conventional design of wood-and-fabric construction typical of the time.

Open cockpits were retained, although later modifications were planned for passenger compartments in the interior.

[2] Flight testing also indicated a lower performance than anticipated which resulted in Avro reconsidering the type's further trials, and eventually led to the abandoning of the third prototype, which was never fitted with engines.