[10][better source needed] During World War II, RAF Ringway was important in military aircraft production and training parachutists.

In 1969, the runway was extended to 2,745 metres (9,006 ft), allowing aircraft to take off with a full payload and to fly non-stop to Canada.

[10] During 2013, Virgin Atlantic introduced its Little Red short-haul brand to take-up some of the available Heathrow and Gatwick slots, which resulted from BMI ceasing operations.

[18] The airline entered compulsory liquidation in September 2019, with many aircraft left parked at the airport while payment disputes were concluded.

[19] Flybe was a British airline with a significant base at Manchester, which provided more than half of UK domestic flights outside London.

Like most British and international airports, Manchester has been severely affected by the global COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent reduction in air passengers.

[20] In late 2020 American Airlines announced that its daily flights to Philadelphia would cease operation amid ongoing travel disruption caused by the Coronavirus outbreak.

[22] Data recorded and published by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) show that during the first 11 months (January through November) of 2020, passenger 'Terminal & Transit' numbers dropped from 29,374,282 in 2019 to 6,787,127 in 2020.

[23] As part of the Government's Future of Air Transport white paper, Manchester Airport published its Master Plan on its proposed expansions until 2030.

Five affected areas are: In the summer of 2009, a £50 million redevelopment programme for Terminal 1 was completed, as well as the construction of new car parking facilities and taxiways for aircraft.

Gate 12 was specially adapted to accommodate the Airbus A380, which is operated by Emirates on their route three times per day from Dubai to Manchester.

[24] In 2007, an £11 million project commenced to redevelop Terminal 2 by improving security facilities and enhancing retail and catering services.

An air side link for transferring passengers between Terminals 1 and 2 is at the planning stage, designed in an effort to boost Manchester's chances of becoming a major hub airport and minimise missed connections.

[151] Manchester Airport has a World Freight Terminal, serving cargo-only freighter services and cargo carried on regular passenger flights.

There are 5,500,000 sq ft (510,000 m2) of warehouse and office space on site, including a chiller unit for frozen products and a border inspection post.

[153] The original main runway, then designated 06/24 and initially 3,300 ft (1,006 m) in length,[154] opened on 17 May 1937[155] when the airport was used as an RAF base and a military aircraft assembly centre.

As demand and aircraft movements both increased during the mid-1990s, mainly due to the newly completed Terminal 2, the airport studied the option of a second full-length runway.

The project was deemed controversial because of the destruction of natural wildlife habitats[157] and because of changes to flight paths to enable aircraft to fly in and out of the second runway.

When the wind direction changes, usually affecting 20% of movements per annum,[155] operations are reversed with aircraft landing from the southwest, lining up to the south over Northwich and over Knutsford and taking off towards Stockport.

[155] Sometimes, aircraft arriving into Manchester Airport are held in stacks, usually in poor weather when the movement rate decreases.

Trains operated by Northern, TransPennine Express and Transport for Wales connect the airport to Manchester Piccadilly and other railway stations, mainly throughout northern England, including Crewe, Wigan, Blackpool North railway station, as well as Edinburgh and Glasgow in Scotland and Holyhead and Llandudno in Wales.

In 2009, Network Rail stated that the third platform meant that capacity will become constrained by the layover of the trains and recommended building a line underneath the Airport towards Northwich by 2024.

[170] Work on building a new fourth platform at the station commenced in early 2014 with a blockade required in February 2015 to allow completion.

The Station is the airport's ground transport interchange and brings bus, coach and rail passengers under one roof.

A network of National Express and Megabus coach services serve Manchester Airport and operate to destinations further afield.

Official long-stay on-airport parking from Manchester Airport is located near the terminals and served by a regular courtesy bus.

Manchester Airport also operates a very large scale valet parking product across all 3 terminals that it has branded as "Meet & Greet".

[184] Between 1997 and 1999 three protest camps were set up to oppose the building of the second runway, the felling of nearby trees on land owned by the National Trust in Styal, Cheshire and air transportation in general.

[187] In 2012 Manchester Airports Group made a further, voluntary payment, to compensate those who felt aggrieved but had been unable to prove financial harm as a result of the operation of Runway 2.

However, the former Macclesfield Borough Council refused to give them planning permission to do so and expressed annoyance at the airport for not investing enough in public transport.