Flights have started departing from Manchester Airport’s two main terminals after a “major power cut” caused travel chaos for passengers.

The airport said in a post on X that it was “now in the process of resuming operations” and it expects “flights to restart during the remainder of this afternoon and evening”.

It added: “It remains important that passengers check with their airlines before travelling to the airport.

“We are also working closely with airlines to reschedule cancelled flights in the coming days. Flights scheduled for tomorrow should be unaffected and passengers due to travel should plan to come to the airport as usual.”

Earlier, the facility had said all flights from Terminals 1 and 2 were cancelled “until further notice” and passengers were advised not to come to the site.

Travellers due to fly from Terminal 3 were largely unaffected.

It was understood the power outage in the early hours of Sunday hit the airport only, after it was initially thought to have affected a wider surrounding area.

Passengers already inside the airport have faced huge delays, with images showing huge queues of people.

There have been instances where some people’s baggage was not on flights.

Chris Woodroofe, Manchester Airport’s managing director, apologised for the chaos, stating: “About 20% of our flights have been cancelled so far, and about 40% have operated. There’s still 40% to go.

“I think it’s inevitable that some of those flights won’t take off which is why it’s so important that passengers talk to their airlines about their flights.”

He added: “Tomorrow we are very much hoping to run an entirely scheduled operation.”

Holidaymaker Lindsay Mitchell was hopeful she and her family would be able to fly to Turkey later today for a trip that had been planned for a year.

She was due to go with her husband, daughter, son, her son’s girlfriend, her daughter’s boyfriend, her nieces, her sister, and her two granddaughters.

Ms Mitchell told Sky News: “We were advised this morning not to travel to Manchester Airport but we’d thought we’d chance it as our flight’s not until 6.30pm teatime, fingers crossed.”

She added: “You have got to make the best of a bad situation. It’s not the airline’s fault, it’s not Manchester Airport’s fault, it’s no one’s fault, it’s just one of those freaky things that happen in everyday life.”

Another passenger, Hayden Lewis, said his flight to the Greek island of Skiathos was cancelled after he was in the airport for about five hours.

He later went to Birmingham Airport after being dropped off by his father and is hopeful of getting to his holiday destination.

Mr Lewis told Sky News: “Our flight got cancelled after being in the airport for about five hours. Left with no idea when they [the airline] could get us there, so we have taken it into our own hands and are now in Birmingham Airport going to the right destination.

“We were going to Skiathos for nine nights. We travelled from Halifax to Manchester. We are now in Birmingham thanks to my dad who collected us from Manchester and dropped us in Birmingham. All because easyJet don’t know when they could get us back out but want us to keep checking the app (along with the thousands of others).”

EasyJet, which operates flights from Terminal 1 at Manchester Airport, said there were “very long queues” for security and disruption to hold baggage processing, meaning passengers could board flights only with cabin luggage.

It said: “Although outside of our control, we would like to apologise for any inconvenience experienced as a result.

“We are doing all we can and working closely with the airport team to minimise the disruption.”

Meanwhile, a number of arriving flights were earlier being diverted to other airports so anyone due to pick passengers up from Manchester Airport should check before they travel.

An Etihad Airways flight from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport was diverted to Birmingham Airport.

The airport said: “We apologise for any inconvenience and aim to restore normal service as soon as possible.”

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A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “Following a site-wide power outage at Manchester Airport, baggage systems are currently not operational.

“Our teams are working closely with the airport authorities and are keeping our customers up to date with the latest information.

“Virgin Atlantic flights are currently departing but may be subject to minor delays.”