Published on : 29 Oct 2026
Passengers say they spent around two hours in the Terminal 3 security queue at Manchester Airport on Tuesday evening and missed their flights — but the airport says only a small number of travellers missed departures, and the figure of “around 100” passengers circulating in reports is disputed.
The disruption hit on Tuesday, October 27, in the middle of the autumn half-term week, when UK airports are at their busiest. One couple flying home to Alicante on a Ryanair evening flight described the queue as “horrendous” and said they were told they could claim new flights and a hotel from Manchester Airports Group (MAG). The airport apologised, pointing to staff absence and an unusual pattern of passenger arrivals, while Ryanair said airport staff shortages were to blame and rejected the claim that about 100 passengers missed one of its flights.
Here is what is known, what is disputed, and what you can do if you are flying from Manchester this week.
Published: October 29, 2026 — Thursday When: Tuesday evening, October 27, 2026 Where: Terminal 3 security, Manchester Airport (MAN) Flight involved: Ryanair FR9073, Manchester to Alicante, scheduled for 9pm Reported wait: About two hours at peak, according to the passengers affected (the Manchester Evening News understands the peak wait was nearer 40 minutes — see below) Missed flights: A “small number,” according to both the airport and Ryanair “Around 100 passengers”: Reported to one couple by a Ryanair desk; Ryanair says this is incorrect — treat as disputed Airport’s explanation: Staff absence plus unexpected passenger arrival patterns, including passengers arriving less than two hours before their flights Ryanair’s explanation: Airport staff shortages, outside the airline’s control Compensation: One couple says they were told they could claim expenses for replacement flights and an overnight stay from MAG; the airport has not published a compensation policy
Tony and Keeley Cooke, who live in Alicante but are from Manchester, arrived at Terminal 3 security at 6:50pm for their 9pm Ryanair flight to Spain. They say they were held back at the boarding-pass scanning barriers and then moved nose to tail through the queue. Mr Cooke said it looked as though only one of the six security lanes was operating, which he put down to rostering, and that staff had been sent to Terminal 2 because of an “incident.”
They also say staff walked along the queue calling forward passengers on earlier flights — some of whom, Mr Cooke said, had arrived late — which added to the frustration of those who had turned up in good time.
By the time they cleared security at around 8:50pm, they say there was not enough time to reach the gate. They were told to re-enter the UK through gate 50 and go to the Ryanair desk in Terminal 1, where they say they were told around 100 passengers had missed the flight. They were offered same-day alternative flights for a set fee of £100, found cheaper tickets online with easyJet for Wednesday, and say they were told they could claim the cost of the new flights and an overnight stay from Manchester Airports Group.
| Time | What Was Reported |
|---|---|
| Earlier in the evening | The Manchester Evening News understands some Terminal 3 security staff were moved to Terminal 2 because of a surge in passenger numbers there |
| 6:50pm | Couple arrives at Terminal 3 security for the 9pm Ryanair flight |
| Evening peak | Passengers describe long queues; airport says a similar surge later hit Terminal 3 and staff returned |
| About 8:50pm | Couple clear security, too late to reach the gate |
| 9:00pm | Scheduled departure of FR9073 to Alicante |
| After missing the flight | Couple told to exit via gate 50 and visit the Ryanair desk in Terminal 1; offered a £100 same-day alternative |
| Source | Claim | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passengers (Tony and Keeley Cooke) | About two hours in the Terminal 3 queue; only one of six lanes appeared to be working | Personal account |
| Manchester Evening News | Peak wait nearer 40 minutes, quickly reduced; only a small number of passengers missed their flight | Reported as the paper’s understanding |
| Manchester Airport | Longer-than-normal queues caused by staff absence and unexpected arrival patterns, including passengers arriving under two hours before departure; “small number” of passengers missed flights; apologised and says it is in touch with those affected | Official statement |
| Manchester Airport (on lanes) | There would not be a situation with only one lane open; staff returned to Terminal 3 when a surge hit there | Official response |
| Ryanair | Delays caused by airport staff shortages, outside the airport’s control; only a “small number” missed FR9073 | Official statement |
| Ryanair desk (as reported by passengers) | Around 100 passengers missed the flight | Disputed — Ryanair says this is incorrect |
Mr Cooke said he felt the flights could have been held if the airline knew so many people were stuck in security. Ryanair says that is not possible: a flight cannot wait for passengers who have not reached the boarding gate on time, and once boarding closes, a legal report of the passenger manifest is signed and sent to the captain, so boarding cannot be reopened.
In practice, airlines treat a passenger who hasn’t reached the gate before boarding closes as a no-show, even if the cause was a queue.
| Situation | What Usually Applies | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| You miss boarding because of airport security queues | The airline generally isn’t liable — standard UK261 compensation covers cancellations, long delays and denied boarding, not passengers who aren’t at the gate in time | Ask the airline about rebooking options and fees; keep all receipts |
| The airport accepts responsibility | Some travellers have reported being told they could claim costs from the airport operator, but this depends on the airport’s decision and isn’t a legal right | Contact the airport’s customer relations in writing with receipts and your boarding pass |
| You hold travel insurance | Some policies cover “missed departure” caused by delays outside your control | Check your policy wording and keep evidence such as photos and timestamps |
| The airline cancels or delays your flight | UK261 rights apply as normal | See our refund and compensation guide |
Manchester Airport says it is in touch with affected passengers, but it hasn’t published details of any compensation arrangement. With half-term continuing and airports across the UK running at peak volumes, similar bottlenecks remain possible at busy times, especially early mornings and evening banks. We’ll update this article if the airport or Ryanair publishes further information.
Posted By : Vinay
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and is based on information available at the time of publication. Travel advisories, airline schedules, airport operations, visa requirements, government regulations, and other travel-related information are subject to change without prior notice. While Travel Tourister makes reasonable efforts to verify information using official announcements, government publications, airline and airport communications, and other reliable sources, we cannot guarantee that all information remains complete, accurate, or up to date at all times. Readers should independently verify any information that may affect their travel plans with the relevant airline, airport authority, government agency, embassy, or other official source before making travel, financial, or other decisions. Travel Tourister shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss, inconvenience, or damages arising from the use of or reliance on the information contained in this article. Nothing in this publication constitutes legal, immigration, financial, or professional travel advice. If you believe any information in this article is inaccurate or outdated, please contact our editorial team. We review all credible correction requests promptly and update our content whenever appropriate.
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