Skylink: Manchester Airport's Terminal Transport Solution

what is skylink at manchester airport

Manchester Airport is one of England's busiest airports, located 17km (10 miles) southwest of central Manchester. The airport's rail, bus and coach interchange, known as The Station, is connected to all three terminals via the Skylink moving walkway system. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors, with two wide moving pavements running down the centre, one in each direction. The Skylink walkway also provides access to the Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport.

Characteristics Values
What is it? A moving walkway system
Where is it? Links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the airport railway station
How is it accessed? By escalator, lift or stairs
What does it look like? Glass-sided corridors with a moving pavement running down the centre
When is it available? Not available during the night and early morning
How long does it take to use? Allow several minutes for travelling along the Skylink
How much does it cost? Free
Are there any alternatives? Yes, shuttle buses are available

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Manchester Airport is located 17km (10 miles) southwest of central Manchester. It is one of England's busiest airports and is the country's largest outside the southeast region. The airport's rail, coach and bus interchange, known as The Station, is connected to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the Skylink system.

The Skylink is a moving walkway system that links the terminals. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors. There are two wide moving pavements running in each direction down the centre of the skylink walkways. The moving walkways are turned off during the night and early morning, so several minutes should be allowed for travelling along the skylink during these times.

Terminals 1 and 2 are connected through an elevated Skylink walkway, while Terminal 3 is accessible by shuttle bus or on foot. Manchester Airport's bus network provides direct services to many local areas and other major towns and cities. The 24-hour Skyline bus 43 operates to the city centre, with a journey time of 60 minutes and a fare of £2.90.

National Express coaches also run to Manchester Airport from destinations throughout the UK, and there is a dedicated ticket desk at The Station that can provide full details of all routes and rates. Trains operate to Manchester Airport from many stations in northern England and the Midlands, with a frequent service between Manchester Airport and Manchester Piccadilly Station in the city centre.

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The walkways are built on stilts and are made of glass

Manchester Airport is one of the busiest airports in England, and it is the largest outside the southeast region. The airport is located 17km (10 miles) southwest of central Manchester. The Skylink is a moving walkway system that links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the airport's rail, bus, and coach interchange, known as The Station. The walkways are built on stilts and are made of glass, with two wide moving pavements running down the centre, one in each direction. The glass-sided corridors allow travellers to move quickly between terminals and the interchange, as there is a fair distance between them. The walkways are turned off during the night and early morning.

The elevated Skylink walkway system is particularly useful for passengers with reduced mobility, who may struggle with the long distances between terminals and transport connections. The walkways are also useful for passengers with lots of luggage or those who are short on time. The system allows passengers to move seamlessly between terminals and to the transport interchange, where they can access trains, buses, and coaches. Manchester Airport's rail network connects the airport to many stations in northern England and the Midlands, including a frequent service to Manchester Piccadilly Station in the city centre, which takes 20 minutes and costs £4.

The Skylink walkway also provides access to the Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport, which is located near Terminal 2. The hotel can be accessed directly from the walkway, providing a convenient option for travellers. The walkways are an essential part of the airport's infrastructure, helping passengers navigate the large airport with ease.

The decision to turn off the moving walkways during the Covid-19 pandemic caused some controversy, with some passengers expressing concern over the increased walking distances, especially for those with restricted mobility. The airport cited the need to focus on protecting employment, maintaining critical infrastructure, and implementing Covid-related safety measures as reasons for the decision.

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There are two moving pavements, one in each direction

The Skylink at Manchester Airport is a moving walkway system that links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the airport's rail, bus and coach interchange, known as The Station. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors. There is a considerable distance between The Station and the terminals, but this is easily traversed thanks to the two wide moving pavements, one in each direction, running down the centre of the Skylink.

The moving pavements allow travellers to quickly and effortlessly cover the ground between The Station and the terminals. This is especially beneficial for those with mobility issues or heavy luggage, as it reduces the physical strain of the journey. The Skylink ensures that passengers can make swift connections to other forms of transport, enhancing the overall efficiency of the airport's transportation network.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport is also accessible via the Skylink Walkway from The Station to Terminal 2. This convenient linkage further underscores the importance of the Skylink system in facilitating seamless travel experiences for visitors to Manchester Airport.

It is important to note that the moving pavements are turned off during the night and early morning hours. As such, travellers during these periods should be prepared to walk the distance between The Station and the terminals. Nevertheless, the presence of the Skylink system during operational hours significantly enhances the accessibility and convenience of navigating Manchester Airport.

In summary, the Skylink's two moving pavements, one in each direction, play a crucial role in streamlining passenger movement at Manchester Airport. By providing a swift and effortless connection between The Station and the terminals, the Skylink enhances the airport's overall transportation network, making it more accessible and user-friendly for travellers.

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The walkways are turned off during the night and early morning

Manchester Airport is one of the busiest airports in England and is the largest outside the southeast region. The airport's Skylink is a moving walkway system that links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the airport's rail, bus and coach interchange, known as The Station. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors. There are two wide moving pavements running down the centre of the skylink walkways, one in each direction.

The airport's decision to turn off the walkways during these times was made amid a context of redundancies and pay cuts. Manchester Airport bosses blamed the traffic light system and the government's lack of decisive action for standing in the way of their recovery. Passenger numbers were down by more than 70% compared to the previous year, with 9.5 million passengers travelling through the airport in the summer of 2019, compared to 1.5 million in 2021.

The airport also cited the need to focus on 'protecting employment, maintaining critical infrastructure and Covid-related safety measures' as a reason for turning off the walkways. The decision is regularly reviewed, and passengers requiring wheelchairs or special assistance are advised to contact their airline at least 48 hours in advance.

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Manchester Airport is one of the busiest airports in England, located approximately 11 miles from Manchester's city centre. The airport's rail, coach, and bus interchange, known as The Station, is connected to all three terminals via the Skylink moving walkway system. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors. There are two wide moving pavements running in each direction down the centre of the skylink walkways, making it easy to traverse the fair distance between the Rail/Bus interchange and the terminals.

The Radisson Blu Hotel is conveniently accessible via the Skylink walkway system. Specifically, the hotel is connected to the Bus and Train Station and Terminal 2. This makes the Radisson Blu Hotel easily reachable for travellers utilising Manchester Airport's transport facilities.

The Skylink walkway system also links Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via the airport railway station. Terminal 2 can also be reached from Terminal 1 via an elevated Skylink walkway, while Terminal 3 can be accessed by shuttle bus or on foot.

It is important to note that the moving walkways on the Skylink are turned off during the night and early morning. Therefore, travellers who may struggle with walking long distances should take this into account when planning their journey, as the distance between the Rail/Bus interchange and the terminals can be significant.

Overall, the Skylink walkway system, including its connection to the Radisson Blu Hotel, offers a convenient and efficient means of navigating Manchester Airport and its surrounding amenities.

Frequently asked questions

The Skylink is a moving walkway system that links Terminals 1, 2 and 3 via the airport railway station.

The Skylink moving walkway system connects the rail, bus and coach interchange known as The Station to all three terminals. The walkways are built on stilts and are glass-sided corridors.

The journey time from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly Station in the city centre is 20 minutes, and the fare is £4.

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