Manchester Airport receives top accessibility rating from Civil Aviation Authority. By Alex Pack August 11, 2026 3 Mins Read Manchester Airport has been awarded the highest possible rating for its special assistance services in the Civil Aviation Authority's latest accessibility report. The airport received a "very good" rating for the services it offers to passengers with restricted mobility and hidden disabilities, an improvement on its "good" rating for 2025. ABM, which operates the airport's special assistance services, was recognized for improvements made over the past 12 months, with the report citing strong performance on waiting times. The report also highlighted the airport's engagement with its Accessibility Forum, an independently chaired advisory group made up of disabled travelers and advocates, along with the quality of facilities in Terminal 2, which is nearing the end of a decade-long transformation program. ABM has also worked to bring people who are not in employment, education, or training into its service teams at the airport, partnering with Trafford and Stockport College Group through its Airport Academy, and with Pure Innovations' supported internships program, to extend job opportunities to people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the airport's neighboring communities. The rating reflects significant investment by Manchester Airport in its facilities, with £1.5 billion (US$2 billion) spent on the transformation of Terminal 2 over the past decade, and further investment now underway to upgrade Terminal 3. "At Manchester Airport we're proud to serve the people of the North, helping more than 32 million passengers on their travel in the past 12 months - including 700,000 with restricted mobility or other assistance needs," said Ed Kibblewhite, head of terminal services at Manchester Airport. "We're delighted with the 'very good' rating in the CAA's latest accessibility report, as it vindicates the investment we've made in these services alongside our delivery partner ABM, and shows that these improvements are bearing fruit, with highly positive feedback from passengers. We are not content to stop here and will continue to improve and streamline the assistance services offered, including in Terminal 3, which is in the middle of its biggest upgrade since it opened in the 1980s." "Achieving a 'very good' rating is the result of consistent investment in our people and the collaborative relationship we have had with Manchester Airport over many years," said Kelly Parish, vice president of transport and aviation at ABM. "As the UK and Ireland's largest provider of accessible travel services, we're particularly proud that this includes creating real opportunities for people from the airport's neighboring communities, through our Airport Academy and our work with Pure Innovations. As Terminal 3 changes shape, we'll be right there ensuring assistance services keep pace."

Manchester Airport earns top accessibility rating from UK regulator. Manchester Airport has received the highest accessibility rating from the UK Civil Aviation Authority following improvements to passenger assistance services and facilities. Manchester Airport accessibility rating Credit: Manchester Airport Manchester Airport (MAN) has achieved the highest possible accessibility rating from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), recognising improvements to its special assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility (PRMs) and hidden disabilities. The airport received a 'Very Good' rating in the regulator's latest Airport Accessibility Report, improving on its previous 'Good' classification. The assessment highlighted stronger performance in passenger waiting times and recognised continued investment in accessibility services delivered in partnership with ABM. Passenger journey improvements recognised. The CAA also praised Manchester Airport's engagement with its independently chaired Accessibility Forum, which includes disabled travellers and accessibility advocates, as well as the quality of facilities within Terminal 2 following its extensive redevelopment programme. Over the past decade, Manchester Airport has invested £1.5 billion in transforming Terminal 2. Further investment is now focused on upgrading Terminal 3 to improve passenger flow, modernise facilities and create a smoother travel experience. Manchester Airport said more than 32 million passengers travelled through the airport over the past year, including around 700,000 people requiring mobility assistance or additional support. Ed Kibblewhite, Head of Terminal Services at Manchester Airport, said: "We're delighted with the 'Very Good' rating in the CAA's latest accessibility report, as it vindicates the investment we've made in these services alongside our delivery partner ABM. We are not content to stop here and will continue to improve and streamline the assistance services offered." ABM was also recognised for its community employment initiatives, including programmes delivered through the Airport Academy and supported internships that help create career opportunities for people from neighbouring communities. Kelly Parish, Vice President - Transport and Aviation at ABM, said the rating reflects continued investment in staff and the long-standing partnership with Manchester Airport to deliver accessible travel services. Latest. No comments yet. You're not signed in. Only registered users can comment on this article. Partner content. Global insight for airport leaders

All-electric utility vehicles deployed during Olympia transformation. 25 Jun 2026 ABM UK has recently acquired two all-electric utility vehicles which are set to be deployed at the transformed Olympia estate. With a history spanning 140 years since it first opened in 1886, Olympia has hosted countless exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, establishing itself as a longstanding hub for events, entertainment and commerce in the capital. Today, the venue is undergoing a transformative £1.3bn redevelopment. ABM UK has been awarded the cleaning, janitorial, landscape and waste management contract across the entire estate, and as part of this operation, ABM UK will deploy two new all-electric Goupil G4 electric utility vehicles supplied by Bradshaw Electric Vehicles. The vehicles were selected following close consultation with Olympia, who detailed a clear requirement for low-emission, low-noise solutions to be deployed at the estate. One of the Goupil G4 vehicles is configured with a cage body and trailer, designed to support the transfer of waste materials from individual buildings to a central consolidation point across the estate. The second Goupil G4 is fitted with a utility cage and integrated pressure washer system, enabling it to support specialist cleaning operations, including window cleaning and general site maintenance. The two vehicles will be operated by separate ABM teams - one focused on back-of-house waste management and the other dedicated to specialist cleaning services. Given the scale and intensity of operations across the site, both vehicles will play a critical role in maintaining continuous, 24-hour service delivery. In addition to their core functions, the Goupil G4s will also be used as multi-purpose maintenance vehicles across Olympia, supporting in additional tasks such as landscaping, internal logistics, and general estate management operations. Their flexibility is expected to be key in managing the evolving needs of the redevelopment and to ensure its upkeep. One vehicle features a lithium battery configuration, while the second operates on a lead-acid system, providing operational versatility across different duty cycles within the estate. Commenting on the deployment, Matheus Pavan, Strategic Account Manager at ABM UK said: "The vehicles being low noise, all electric and low speed were also key considerations for their adoption, particularly given the nature of the site and the requirements set out within the planning conditions for the redevelopment."