Environmental Management
How we manage aircraft noise and our wider environmental responsibilities for the communities around Manchester Airport
Aircraft Noise
Noise Action Plan
Our Noise Action Plan sets out how we manage aircraft noise and reduce its impact on people living near the airport. The planning process runs in five-year cycles, with each plan building on the last.
Our 2024 to 2028 Noise Action Plan is the third for Manchester Airport. It is based on noise maps prepared by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) showing the airport in 2021. Measures range from restricting the noisiest aircraft at night to a sound insulation grant scheme. After a consultation with local stakeholders in summer 2024, DEFRA adopted the plan in December 2024. You can read the 2024 to 2028 Noise Action Plan and summary.
Night Noise Policy
To limit the effects of night-time flights, we operate a Night Noise Policy. You can read our Night Noise Policy.
Quiet Flight Performance Report
Developed with our Consultative Committee, this report fulfils one of our Noise Action Plan commitments. It shows the annual noise performance of our airline operators against a range of noise metrics and explains the methodology behind the data. You can read the Quiet Flight Performance Report.
Noise contours
Individual aircraft have become much quieter over time. Measuring noise over time is complex because the number of flights can rise even as each aircraft gets quieter. We describe these trends in our Airlines and Aircraft Fleets data sheet.
For this reason, we measure noise using contours, which map noise energy over a set period. The Civil Aviation Authority produces these independently for us.
What the metrics mean
LAeq: the average noise level across a set period
N70, N65, N60: the number of aircraft noise events louder than 70, 65 or 60 decibels
8HR, 16HR, 24HR: the measurement period – night (8 hours), day (16 hours) or full day (24 hours)
Note on recent years: like all airports, Manchester saw a sharp fall in traffic during the pandemic. The 2020, 2021 and 2022 contours are not typical of a normal summer. We have kept the 2019 contours below as a more representative example of normal operations.
2025
MAN 2025 ngt standard N70
MAN 2025 24h standard LAeq24h
MAN 2025 24h standard N70
MAN 2025 day standard LAeq16h
MAN 2025 day standard N65
MAN 2025 day standard N70
MAN 2025 ngt standard LAeq8h
MAN 2025 ngt standard N60
2024
MAN 2024 Summer N65 16HR
MAN 2024 Summer N70 8HR
MAN 2024 Summer N70 16HR
MAN 2024 Summer N70 24HR
MAN 2024 Summer LAeq 8HR
MAN 2024 Summer LAeq 16HR
MAN 2024 Summer LAeq 24HR
MAN 2024 Summer N60 8HR
2023
MAN 2023 Summer N65 16HR
MAN 2023 Summer N70 8HR
MAN 2023 Summer N70 16HR
MAN 2023 Summer N70 24HR
MAN 2023 Summer LAeq 8HR
MAN 2023 Summer LAeq 16HR
MAN 2023 Summer LAeq 24HR
MAN 2023 Summer N60 8HR
2022
MAN 2022 Summer Leq NGT
MAN 2022 Summer Leq DAY
MAN 2022 Summer Leq 24HR
2021
MAN 2021 Summer Leq NGT
MAN 2021 Summer Leq DAY
MAN 2021 Summer Leq 24HR
2020
MAN 2020 Summer Leq NGT
MAN 2020 Summer Leq DAY
MAN 2020 Summer Leq 24HR
2019
MAN 2019 Summer Leq NGT
MAN 2019 Summer Leq DAY
MAN 2019 Summer Leq 24HR
MAN 2019 Summer n70 DAY
MAN 2019 Summer n70 NGT
MAN 2019 Summer n70 24HR
MAN 2019 Summer n65 DAY
MAN 2019 Summer n60 NGT
Sustainable Development Plan
Our Sustainable Development Plan sets the strategic context for the long-term development of Manchester Airport. It has a high-level summary and four detailed plans covering the economy and surface access, environment, community, and land use.
Our support for the North West region's economy and transport connectivity.
The land uses and facilities needed to support the airport's development.
How we engage with local communities and contribute to the well-being of those living near the airport.
The main environmental issues and how we manage and improve them across the site.
Environment & Energy Policy
Our top-level commitment to managing the environment and energy. You can read our Environment & Energy Policy.
Ecology and exploring our Runway Trail
We created the Runway Trail to open up the countryside around the airport and showcase the Landscape and Habitat Management Area developed alongside our expansion. Use the Runway Trail booklet to explore the area.