YORK and North Yorkshire passengers planning to fly out from Manchester Airport next week are being warned to leave plenty of time to get there.

The airport is expecting the biggest day in its history when the UEFA Champions League final comes to Old Trafford on May 28.

Up to 33,000 Juventus and AC Milan fans are expected to journey to Manchester for the match as well as the teams themselves, VIPs and international media between May 26 and 28.

The airport will also be busy in the early hours of May 29, when most of the fans will be flying home again.

Airport chiefs say this means the roads around the airport are likely to experience significant amounts of extra traffic - particularly on roads linking the airport with Old Trafford and the city centre.

People travelling to the airport between May 26 and May 29 are advised to leave extra time for their road journeys, just in case the traffic is particularly heavy.

The airport's three terminals are also expected to be very busy, but bosses revealed they will make every effort to ensure that passengers departing from or landing at Manchester between May 26 and May 29 do not experience delays at check-in, security control or baggage reclaim.

Updated: 11:25 Wednesday, May 21, 2003