Staff and travellers will soon be able to take off with Metrolink’s new early morning service to Manchester Airport.

From March 21st, trams will run from Firswood to Manchester Airport from 03.40 every day.

The new service will see the first tram arrive at approximately 03.40 - in advance of 04:00 shift starts, which generally sees a large number of employees starting work.

Transport for Greater Manchester has worked closely with Manchester Airports Group to extend Metrolink’s operating hours to meet the ever increasing demand of the UK’s third biggest airport.

As well as delivering much needed connectivity and travel choices, the Airport Line service will reduce the number of car journeys on our roads by encouraging some of the 71 per cent of MAG staff who opt to drive to work to use Metrolink instead.

The multi-award winning, £400 million line, which included a £50 million funding contribution from MAG, opened more than a year ahead of schedule in November 2014 and carried 1.88 million passengers in its first year.

The service will extend to Deansgate-Castlefield later in the year once a programme of improvement works has been completed.

Trams will run every 20 minutes until 06:00, when services will revert to a 12 minute frequency from Cornbrook.

Ken O’Toole, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: “There are 21,500 people employed at Manchester Airport, with thousands more jobs being created in the months and years to come so this increase in operating hours is really positive news.

“We are committed to ensuring local people have access to those jobs and this new service allows people the opportunity to take jobs with shifts starting at all times of the day.

“Being a 24/7 business, with upwards of 23 million passengers a year, having effective ground transport connections is paramount to the efficient running of the airport.

“We have worked closely with TfGM to maximise the benefits of the Metrolink line, and as we grow and develop we will continue to invest in public transport options to ensure employees can easily access the site.

“The service will also be pleasing to passengers looking to access the 210 plus destinations here, with many flights going out early in a morning.”