Manchester and Liverpool Airports Move Up The Table

If you’re flying out this summer and you need a bit of extra help getting to the gate, there’s some genuinely good news in a report published this week.

The Civil Aviation Authority has released its annual Airport Accessibility Report, which grades the UK’s biggest airports on how well they look after disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility.

Both Manchester and Liverpool have moved up from ‘Good’ to ‘Very Good’ — putting the two airports most of us along the M56 actually use at the top end of the national table.

I spoke to Ross Lydall, who heads up communications delivery at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, and he couldn’t resist the obvious line.

“Both cities, obviously Manchester and Liverpool, are well known for being top of the Football League table, and our report has found that essentially both airports now are also essentially top of the UK league table for passenger accessibility.”

Demand Is Going Up Every Single Year

Here’s the number that stopped me: 5.9 million requests for assistance across UK airports in 2025. That’s a record. And since 2015, requests have gone up by nearly 116 percent, while overall passenger numbers have only grown by around 24 percent.

So why? Ross gave three reasons, and none of them are what you might assume.

“Partly because of the ageing society, so it’s not something to do particularly with airlines or airports. It’s the fact we’re all getting older.”

Then there’s the post-COVID travel surge and more leisure trips. And finally, awareness — people see others using the service and realise it’s there for them too.

Let’s Address The Cynicism

I put it to him directly, because I’ve heard it said and I suspect you have too: is everyone just doing this to skip the queue?

“I wouldn’t disagree with you that it’s something of a perception that that’s the case,” he said, “but essentially what we’ve measured, it’s the need of many entirely valid passengers.”

And this is the bit worth sitting with. Assistance isn’t just wheelchairs. It’s help with luggage. It’s the walk from the car park or the train station. It’s people who simply can’t stand for long.

Ross Lydall told me about his own dad, approaching 80 and using a walking stick, going through Glasgow Airport. He and his pal rather enjoyed the golf buggy, as it turns out.

But without it? “He really wouldn’t have made it to the airport gate on time. And my mother and her friend would have been incredibly stressed, worried that he would be about to fall over.”

Anyone who’s walked to a far gate at Manchester knows it’s a proper trek even if you’re fit. It’s easy to overestimate how quickly you can cover that ground.

It’s Not Perfect, And They Know It

To be fair to the CAA, they aren’t pretending the job’s done. Overall satisfaction with UK air travel is at 88 per cent — the highest since the survey began. For passengers with accessibility needs, it drops to 82 per cent. And 58 per cent of disabled consumers still report difficulties getting through airports and flying.

“We’re not saying everything’s perfect,” Ross said. “Sadly, there can be some really quite unfortunate situations that happen.” There’s an Aviation Bill going through Parliament that could hand the regulator stronger enforcement powers, and they’re consulting later this year on raising the bar again.

One reason Manchester and Liverpool did well, he added, was that both actually sat down with disabled passenger groups and acted on what they heard.

What To Do If You Need Help

Ross Lydall’s advice, and it’s the practical takeaway for anyone travelling this summer:
Notify in advance.

Tell the airport before you arrive and you’re far more likely to get the help you need — different targets kick in for pre-notified passengers.

Check the website. Airports are graded on how useful their online information is, including blue badge parking closest to the terminal.

And if you forget — just ask. “Don’t suffer in silence, if you like. Airports are required to help.”

If it still goes wrong, you can complain to the airport directly or to the Civil Aviation Authority.
Progress, then.

Not perfection — but progress. And for once, Manchester and Liverpool are top of the table together.