The short answer
Old Trafford has no helicopter landing site, but Manchester Heliport at Barton Aerodrome in Eccles is about 4.9 miles away in a straight line, which makes United's ground the easiest in Manchester to reach by helicopter. We land you at Barton and a car covers the rest. London to Manchester takes about 65 to 80 minutes by helicopter.
Quote this event Tell us the date and the number of guests; we reply with options and a price for the whole aircraft.
Key facts
- Venue
- Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Old Trafford, Manchester M16 0RA; about 74,000 seats
- Landing at the ground
- No helicopter landing site at the stadium
- Nearest dedicated site
- Manchester Heliport, Barton Aerodrome, Eccles; about 4.9 miles away in a straight line
- Barton hours
- As published: Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 18:00, Friday to Sunday 09:00 to 19:00 or sunset; 24 hours on request
- Barton extras
- Departure lounge, cafe and free parking on site
- Manchester Airport
- About 6.9 miles from the ground; slot-coordinated, handling mandatory
- London to Barton
- About 65 to 80 minutes by helicopter, around 4 hours by road
- Good for
- Client hospitality, directors' days, staff incentive days
How close can a helicopter get to Old Trafford?
To within about 4.9 miles in a straight line, at Manchester Heliport, which is part of Barton Aerodrome in Eccles, on the west side of the city. The stadium itself, beside the Bridgewater Canal and the railway, has no helicopter landing site that we can offer, and we do not suggest otherwise. Barton is Manchester's dedicated rotary facility, with a departure lounge, a cafe and free parking, and all landings are prior permission and booked by us with your flight. Our Manchester page has the site facts.
Charter-A Helicopter is the helicopter charter service of Charter-A Ltd, which has arranged private flights across the UK and Europe since 2011. For helicopter charter Manchester United clients, the short gap between Barton and the ground is the main reason this fixture works so well for guests who value their time.
What are the Barton hours on a match day?
As published, flying operations run 09:00 to 18:00 Monday to Thursday and 09:00 to 19:00 Friday to Sunday, or sunset if earlier. The heliport is available 24 hours for rotary bookings on request, with an out-of-hours charge. Customs is by arrangement with notice, which matters only for international flights.
For a lunchtime or mid-afternoon kick-off, those hours are comfortable. For an evening game, we arrange late opening in advance or use Manchester Airport, which is 8.3 nautical miles from Barton and open 24 hours, though it is slot-coordinated and needs mandatory handling. Fixture dates are set by the league and broadcasters, so please check the club for dates.
Which routes and times work best for Old Trafford?
London to Barton takes about 65 to 80 minutes by helicopter and around 4 hours by road; see London to Manchester by helicopter. Birmingham to Barton takes about 35 to 40 minutes against around 1 hour 54 minutes; see Birmingham. Leeds to Barton is about 20 to 25 minutes against around 1 hour 7 minutes; see Leeds. Liverpool to Barton is about 15 to 20 minutes against around 40 minutes by road.
The pattern for most parties is the same: depart in the morning, land at Barton, short car transfer to lunch or straight to the ground, match, then back. Arrive 10 minutes before take-off, give us a weight for each passenger and use soft bags. For a larger group, we split across two helicopters; see the AW139 for eight passengers.
Are there other sites near the ground?
The previous version of this page named Manchester Airport (about 6.9 miles), the Three Arrows Hotel in Middleton (about 5.8 miles) and Bredbury Hall in Stockport (about 6.8 miles). The airport is a licensed option we use. The hotel and Bredbury Hall are private sites, and any landing there is subject to landing permission and site suitability.
For the car, we use Executive Global Travel. See also Manchester City at the Etihad, Liverpool at Anfield, football by helicopter and corporate days out. For price guidance, the price guides explain what drives a figure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a helipad at Old Trafford?
No landing site at the stadium is available to us. Manchester Heliport at Barton is about 4.9 miles away in a straight line.
How long is the car from Barton to Old Trafford?
A short transfer, but it depends on match-day traffic. We allow a generous margin and arrange the car.
Can we fly out after an evening match?
Yes, with planning. Barton closes at 18:00 or 19:00 as published but opens 24 hours on request with a charge.
How long from London or Birmingham?
London to Barton is about 65 to 80 minutes; Birmingham about 35 to 40 minutes, against around 4 hours and 1 hour 54 minutes by road.
What if the weather stops the flight?
If the flight is cancelled because of the weather, you pay nothing.
