Does Manchester Airport Have a Smoking Area?
Yes, Manchester Airport has smoking areas. But where you can smoke, and whether you get access after security, depends on which terminal you are flying from.
Most passengers assume the rules are the same across the whole airport. They are not. Terminal 2 has an outdoor smoking zone after security, putting it among a small number of UK airports that allow this. Terminal 3 offers nothing once you are past the checkpoint. Terminal 1, which older guides still reference, closed for good in November 2025.
TL;DR
- Yes. Manchester Airport has outdoor smoking areas before security at both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
- Terminal 2 also has a smoking area after security, near Gate 300. This is rare for a UK airport.
- Terminal 3 has no airside smoking. If you fly with Ryanair, smoke before security or not at all until you land.
- Terminal 1 closed on 19 November 2025. Any article still mentioning it is out of date.
- Vaping is only allowed in the same outdoor zones as cigarettes. It is banned inside all buildings.
What Changed in November 2025
Terminal 1 closed on 19 November 2025 after more than 60 years of operation. The closure followed completion of Manchester Airport's £1.3 billion expansion of Terminal 2, which more than doubled in size and absorbed all airlines that previously flew from Terminal 1.
That includes easyJet, Emirates, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, SAS and Norse Atlantic. Every one of them moved to Terminal 2. On 5 March 2026, the former Terminal 1 entrance and part of its security area were absorbed into an expanded Terminal 3, which is now used by Ryanair passengers.
The smoking area that existed inside Terminal 1 near the food court no longer exists. If you flew from Terminal 1 before 2025 and used that terrace, your routine has changed.
Manchester Airport now runs two active terminals:
- Terminal 2: all major carriers, around 80% of all passenger traffic
- Terminal 3: Ryanair only
Smoking at Terminal 2
Before Security
Outdoor smoking zones sit at the Terminal 2 departures forecourt, outside the main building. They are marked with yellow paint on the ground and clearly signposted. Use these before you head inside to check in.
After Security
Once you have cleared security at Terminal 2, you can still smoke. The designated outdoor area is near Gate 300. From most gates in Terminal 2, the walk takes around five to ten minutes. Follow the signage from the main departure concourse.
Three things to know before you head there:
- Gate 300 is within the secure zone, so you stay airside the whole time. No need to exit and go back through security.
- Go early. Boarding gates at Terminal 2 are announced 60 to 90 minutes before departure. Head to Gate 300 shortly after clearing security, not when your gate is about to close.
- It is an outdoor terrace. In wet weather, you are outside without full cover.
Smoking at Terminal 3
Before Security
There are outdoor smoking zones at curbside outside the Terminal 3 main entrance. They are signposted and easy to find on arrival. Use them before going through security, because once you are past that point, your options run out.
After Security
Terminal 3 has no airside smoking area. Nothing. Once you have cleared security at Terminal 3, you cannot smoke or vape until you land at your destination.
Some passengers leave airside at Terminal 3 to smoke outside and then re-enter through security. This is allowed, but it carries a real risk. During school holidays and early morning departures, security queues at Manchester can run to 30 minutes or longer. Only consider this if you have more than 90 minutes before your boarding time and are not travelling during a peak period.
Vaping and E-Cigarettes
Vaping, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products such as IQOS are treated the same as cigarettes at Manchester Airport. You can use them only in the same outdoor designated zones. Manchester Airports Group banned indoor vaping across all its sites in August 2014. Airport staff enforce this actively.
For Terminal 2 passengers:
Vape landside at the forecourt zones before security, or use the Gate 300 outdoor area after security.
For Terminal 3 passengers:
Vape at the curbside zones before security only. No options after.
Packing Your Vape Device
The UK Civil Aviation Authority is clear on this:
- Vape devices go in hand luggage only. Not in your checked bag.
- You may carry a maximum of two spare lithium batteries in hand luggage.
- You cannot charge your device on the plane.
- Vape liquids follow the 100ml rule in a clear resealable plastic bag.
Note that Terminal 2 has CT scanners and you no longer need to remove liquids from your bag there. Terminal 3 has a mix of older equipment in some lanes, so keep your liquids accessible just in case.
Terminal Smoking at a Glance
Getting to Manchester Airport
Transfers 247 provides fixed-price taxi transfers to Manchester Airport around the clock. Both Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 drop-off points are covered. Book online at transfers247.co.uk/book-online or call 0161 410 9595 any time.