Manchester airport has issued advice to passengers as it forecast one of its busiest Christmas travel periods.
A projected 1.2 million passengers are due to use its three terminals between December 19 and January 5.
Friday, December 20 is expected to be the busiest day, with more than 82,600 passengers followed by December 29 and December 27, with predicted totals of 80,400 and 78,500 travellers respectively.
The five most popular destinations are Dublin, Dubai, Amsterdam, Tenerife and Doha.
Passenger guidance and tips on how to get Christmas getaways off to the right start are being provided via a ‘huMAN’ advent calendar shared through the airport’s social media channels.
It will feature a member of staff, passenger or destination each day. Passengers appearing in the advent calendar will have the opportunity to win prizes while tips and advice will be shared.
Airport customer services and security director Lee Wasnidge said: “Safety and security are just as important at this time of year as any other.
“We see an increase in passengers carrying unusual items, often as gifts for friends and family or as part of Christmas traditions.
“They can unwittingly end up falling foul of hand luggage regulations and the last thing we want to see is gifts being unwrapped or prevented or prevented from passing through security and making the journey to their end destination.
“We encourage all of our passengers to review the advice we are providing to ensure they pass through security smoothly and do not have to leave any presents or other items behind.”
The airport’s festive travel guidance:
- If in doubt about any particular items, pack them in your checked hold luggage, rather than in hand luggage
- Ensure products hand luggage containing liquids, gels or pastes are in a clear, sealable bag and don’t exceed 100ml each. This includes, among other things, perfume, aftershave, make-up, condiments such as jams and butter, beverages and snow globes
- If planning to carry Christmas crackers, check with your airline in advance as to whether they will be permitted in hand luggage. Some will allow one box per passenger, but most prohibit them
- If flying with a Christmas pudding put this in your hold luggage
- If your bag requires a full search, security personnel may need to unwrap gifts to check their contacts. Wrap presents once you have reached your destination where possible
- Take off coats/jackets and other winter wear before reaching security to help save time
- If you or someone in your party has reduced mobility, book any airline assistance you require in advance to avoid delays
- Poor weather has the potential to disrupt public transport and the road network at this time of year. Ensure you leave plenty of time when planning your journey