Work begins on next major phase of Manchester Airport’s £1.3bn Transformation Programme

Manchester Airport has started work on the construction of a new pier, which will connect to Terminal 2.

The pier is the most significant new structure being built in the second and final phase of the airport's £1.3bn Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), first announced in 2015 with a 10-year vision to revolutionise the passenger experience at the UK's global gateway in the north.

The new pier will mirror Terminal 2's Pier 1, which opened in 2019, and will provide 12 new boarding gates and flexible aircraft stands for next-generation aircraft. It will also be equipped to handle the giant Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft currently in operation.

The first phase saw Terminal 2 more than double in size and the second phase will see the original building upgraded with a second security hall and a new-look, extended departure lounge, along with reconfigurations of the airfield to help make operations more efficient.

Upon completion in 2025, around 80% of all passengers will use the expanded Terminal 2, which will also boast 27 new shops, bars and restaurants, including a high-street style shopping area, a champagne bar and a food hall.

MAG Deputy CEO Ken O'Toole, who will become Group CEO from 1st October, was on hand to put the first spade in the ground, as work started on the pier on Monday.

Mr O'Toole said: "We are pleased to be beginning work on what is a major milestone in our transformation of Manchester Airport.

"Our £1.3bn transformation programme is the largest investment ever made in Manchester Airport, and will create thousands of jobs, revolutionise the customer experience and ensure we connect to the North to even more global destinations in the years ahead.

"We are already seeing the benefits of the first phase of our investment, with passengers and airlines providing excellent feedback on our extended Terminal 2. Through this second phase, we will deliver yet more improvements to the passenger experience and cater for the growing network of airlines operating from Manchester.

"As we break ground on this pier, I look forward to seeing the project progress to its conclusion in 2025, cementing Manchester's role as the UK's global gateway in the North."

More than 500 jobs are being created during the construction phase of the project – which is forecasted to generate up to 16,400 jobs by 2040, according to independent analysis.