Planning consent has been granted today (Thursday, 3rd March) for Manchester Airport's ten year, £1bn transformation programme.
The Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP) is a series of 60 enhancements that will provide the millions of passengers that use the airport every year with facilities that combine a contemporary look and feel with state of the art services.
Brad Miller, Manchester Airport Transformation Programme Director said: "Everyone at Manchester Airport is delighted that a significant piece of our £1bn transformation programme has been given planning consent. This means work can truly begin on the project, which over the next decade will see the airport continue to develop as a global gateway for the UK, directly to and from the North.
"The enhancements the project will make will enable us to further adapt, modernise and transform the customer service experience we are able to offer passengers and airlines. It will also allow Manchester Airport to continue in its role as job creator and economic provider for Greater Manchester and the wider region."
The key elements of the Transformation Programme include the expansion and reconfiguring of Terminal 2, to become the airport's primary terminal building, and improvements to Terminal 3 to cater for increased demand and an expanding flight schedule.
New and enlarged airside transfer facilities will be introduced, including a direct linkage between Terminals 2 and 3, and the latest technology will be installed in a new, enlarged security hall that will screen more passengers, more quickly.
Additionally a US pre-clearance facility will be added, allowing passengers to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before boarding their flight.
The plans also include the introduction of a host of new customer friendly enhancements, including self-service check-in facilities and around 50 food and beverage and retail outlets. There will be new stands and piers, offering better departure gate facilities, and an improved access road system making it easier for customers to come to and from our airport.
MAN-TP will adopt a phased approach to implement the improvements, aimed at minimising disruption to airport operations, passengers and airlines.
The improvements will be delivered inside the existing footprint of Manchester Airport which is the UK's third largest airport. With two runways, the airport has significant capacity for growth and already serves over 70 airlines and in excess of 210 short and long haul destinations. Manchester Airport is the only UK airport outside of London with direct routes to a host of global destinations including Beijing, Los Angeles, Miami, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Singapore, Atlanta, Washington and Boston.
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So that's approximately 1500 cars to get into and out of the site each day, not to mention the hundreds of HGV movements in and out each day. Can our road infrastructure cope?