Helicopter hire in Manchester
Rides over the city and the stadiums from Manchester Barton Aerodrome, and private charters across the North West.
- 5-minute ride
- £149 per person
- 30 min for up to 4
- £699
- Base
- Manchester Barton
- To the city centre
- About 5 nm
Flying from Manchester by helicopter
Heli Air flies from Manchester Barton Aerodrome, about 5 nautical miles west of the city centre. A 5-minute flight costs £149 per person, a 15-minute flight for up to three people £349, and a 30-minute flight for up to four £699, with optional passes over Old Trafford or the Etihad. A private charter typically costs £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour.
Manchester's helicopters fly from Barton, the city's original airport, which opened in 1930 and now has a heliport alongside its grass runways.
Barton is home to North West Air Ambulance and the National Police Air Service, and to commercial operators offering rides, charters and wedding flights.
Sightseeing flights take in the skyline and the countryside, with optional passes over the ship canal and the stadiums. Private charters can fly you to a meeting, a wedding venue or a race day such as the Grand National.
Heading further? See private jets from Manchester or empty legs from Manchester.
Sources:Heli Air: Manchester base at BartonHeli Air: Manchester helicopter flightHeli Air: scenic Manchester helicopter flight for 3Heli Air: extended Manchester helicopter flight for 4Wikipedia: Manchester Barton AerodromeManchester Barton Aerodrome: our story
Manchester helicopter rides
- Flight time
- 5 min
- Passengers
- Per person
- Price
- £149
- Route
- About 8 miles over the skyline and countryside
- Flight time
- 15 min
- Passengers
- Up to 3
- Price
- £349
- Route
- About 28 miles
- Flight time
- 30 min
- Passengers
- Up to 4
- Price
- £699
- Route
- About 57 miles; optional Old Trafford, Etihad, ship canal
Flights by [[Heli Air|/en-gb/operators/heli-air/]] from Manchester Barton (M30 7SA) in a Robinson R44 or similar, as published October 2026.
Sources:Heli Air: Manchester helicopter flightHeli Air: scenic Manchester helicopter flight for 3Heli Air: extended Manchester helicopter flight for 4
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Manchester Barton Aerodrome and heliport
Barton-upon-Irwell in Salford, about 5 nautical miles west of Manchester city centre. It opened on 29 January 1930 as the original Manchester Airport.
Peel Holdings bought the aerodrome in 2003 and began a new facility there in 2011; Barton calls its Manchester Heliport the only luxury commercial heliport in the North West.
CAA ordinary licence for passenger flights and training, on four grass runways. Not licensed for night use, though helicopters can fly at night by arrangement.
Sources:Wikipedia: Manchester Barton AerodromeManchester Barton Aerodrome: our story
Transfers, weddings and race days
- Helicentre flies personal and corporate charters from Barton and Liverpool John Lennon Airport, including VIP and wedding transport from Manchester.
- Private charters are priced for the whole helicopter, from £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour as a guide.
- Twin-engine options in the North West include the Sikorsky S-76, AW109 and AS355.
- Race day flights: see the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival pages.
- Weddings: see helicopter weddings and proposals.
Sources:Helicentre: Liverpool and Manchester helicopter basesCAA: Air Operator Certificate holders list, 5 October 2026 (PDF)
What goes into a helicopter price
You charter the whole helicopter and its pilot, so the price is per flight, not per seat.
- Flying time at the hourly rate for the type: as a guide, £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour for the whole helicopter.
- Positioning when the helicopter is based away from your pickup point, both to reach you and to fly home.
- Landing fees: at The London Heliport, from £420 for a Robinson R44 to £2,485 for the largest types, plus VAT.
- Out-of-hours fees at The London Heliport: £500 for an early or evening extension, £1,000 from 21:00 to 22:59.
- VAT: transport in an aircraft with fewer than 10 seats is generally standard-rated (20%), and sightseeing flights that return to their departure airfield are standard-rated.
- Waiting time if the helicopter holds for you during the day.
Sources:The London Heliport: charges from 24 August 2026 (PDF)HMRC: the VAT treatment of passenger transport (Notice 744A)GOV.UK: VAT rates
Helicopters flying in the North West
Rides use the Robinson R44; charters use twins such as the AW109, AS355 and S-76.
Operators near Manchester
CAA Air Operator Certificate holders flying from Barton and across the North West.
Sightseeing rides from Manchester Barton
Charter, wedding and pleasure flights from Barton and Liverpool
Knutsford, Cheshire. AS355, AW109, H130, Bell 429 and H155
Blackpool. VIP charter in a twin-engine Sikorsky S-76C++
Leeds Bradford. AS365 Dauphin and H155 twins
Sources:Heli Air: Manchester base at BartonHelicentre: Liverpool and Manchester helicopter basesCAA: Air Operator Certificate holders list, 5 October 2026 (PDF)
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow much is a helicopter ride in Manchester?+
From £149 per person for a 5-minute flight from Barton, £349 for up to three on a 15-minute flight, and £699 for up to four on a 30-minute flight.
Where do Manchester helicopter rides take off?+
From Manchester Barton Aerodrome in Barton-upon-Irwell, Salford, about 5 nautical miles west of the city centre.
Can the helicopter fly over Old Trafford or the Etihad?+
Heli Air's 30-minute flight offers optional passes over Old Trafford, the Etihad and the Manchester Ship Canal.
Can I hire a helicopter for a wedding in Manchester?+
Yes. Helicentre offers wedding transport from Barton, and we can quote other operators for your venue.
Can helicopters fly at night from Barton?+
The aerodrome is not licensed for night use, but helicopters can operate at night by arrangement.
How much does a private helicopter cost?+
As a guide, £1,200 to £3,500 per flight hour for the whole helicopter, plus positioning and landing fees.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.Heli Air: Manchester base at Barton
- 2.Heli Air: Manchester helicopter flight
- 3.Heli Air: scenic Manchester helicopter flight for 3
- 4.Heli Air: extended Manchester helicopter flight for 4
- 5.Wikipedia: Manchester Barton Aerodrome
- 6.Manchester Barton Aerodrome: our story
- 7.Helicentre: Liverpool and Manchester helicopter bases
- 8.CAA: Air Operator Certificate holders list, 5 October 2026 (PDF)
- 9.The London Heliport: charges from 24 August 2026 (PDF)
- 10.HMRC: the VAT treatment of passenger transport (Notice 744A)
- 11.GOV.UK: VAT rates
Fly over Manchester, or out of it.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.