Contact us
Fill Out Form

Transport Wayfinding

Manchester Airport – Terminal 1 Redevelopment

Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1 underwent a major £50 million redevelopment to improve passenger flow, enhance commercial performance and prepare the terminal for increased international travel. Wayfinder Ltd was commissioned to analyse the passenger journey in detail and deliver a clear, intuitive wayfinding strategy that reduced stress, improved efficiency and supported the airport’s commercial objectives.

Bold yellow airport wayfinding signs for flight transfers, toilets and arrivals at Manchester Airport

Challenges:
Navigating Complexity in a High-Pressure Environment

High passenger stress around check-in, security and departure gates

Congestion caused by retail placement and queue interactions

Confusing sightlines leading to hesitation and slow movement

Need to balance navigation clarity with commercial visibility

Multiple decision points where passengers lost confidence

Requirement to support both experienced and first-time flyers

Our Approach

We carried out a full behavioural and environmental study, observing how passengers moved through Terminal 1 from the moment they entered the building. Our analysis identified key bottlenecks and revealed that land-side retail was diverting attention from security, causing late arrivals and missed flights.

We recommended repositioning retail to encourage passengers to pass through security earlier and enjoy the commercial offer airside, where dwell time is higher. We also simplified the communication hierarchy, clarified routes to check-in and security, and improved the spacing and visibility of directional signage to support smooth movement during peak traffic.

Central Bus Station sign and information desk with a blue i pillar in an underground concourse
Coach Tickets sign above a National Express ticket desk under a white fabric roof

Results

The new strategy significantly improved passenger flow, reduced stress during check-in and security, and contributed to a decrease in missed flights. Passengers moved more confidently through the terminal, and commercial performance improved due to increased dwell time in the airside retail zone. The system provided a more intuitive, modern experience while supporting the airport’s long-term operational goals.

More Transport Wayfinding

Every project we deliver is rooted in how people actually think, move, and make decisions. The results speak for themselves! Clearer journeys, fewer questions, reduced stress, and environments that simply work better.

Heathrow check-in hall with zone D and E signs and departure screens beneath the curved roof

Heathrow Airport Bus Terminal

Serving millions of passengers between Terminals 1, 2 and 3, We delivered a wayfinding strategy for fast, confident and safe movement.

Merseyrail train at a platform with tactile paving and a yellow safety line under a canopy

Mersey Rail

Merseyrail commissioned Wayfinder Ltd to analyse the entire passenger communication system across 64 stations and assess how effectively the network supported safe, efficient movement.

Close-up of yellow on black airport signs for flight transfers, toilets and arrivals

Manchester Airport Transport Hub

Manchester Airport’s Transport Hub connects multiple modes of travel including trains, trams, buses, coaches and walking routes into a single gateway for passengers arriving at or departing from the airport.

Let’s Talk Wayfinding

If you have questions about wayfinding, navigation or user experience, get in touch. Complete our short form and we’ll follow up with a friendly, no-pressure conversation.