MAG (Manchester Airports Group) today announced a £440m investment in Manchester Airport which will provide spacious facilities, state-of-the-art technology and equipment, and an array of shops, bars, restaurants and airport lounges.
The investment is the final phase of the £1.3bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), first announced in 2015 with a 10-year vision to revolutionise the customer experience at the Northern hub and unlock the potential of its two full-length runways.
This latest investment will complete the transformation of Terminal 2, delivering improvement to the passenger journey as well as upgrading its airfield to cater for next generation aircraft.
Upon completion in 2025, around 80% of all passengers will use the expanded Terminal 2, with Terminal 1 set to close – 63 years after it was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1962.
More than 500 jobs will be created in the construction phase alone, while independent analysis shows around 16,400 extra jobs will be generated by 2040 as a result of the economic activity stimulated by the expansion of the airport and its route network.
The same research – by York Aviation – reveals that Manchester Airport's current contribution to the Northern economy of £3.5bn is expected to soar by nearly 80%, to £6.3bn by 2040 as a result of the full delivery of the transformation programme.
Charlie Cornish, CEO of MAG, said: "Manchester Airport is a key economic asset for the North, and this investment will maximise the contribution it makes to creating a balanced and globally competitive UK economy.
"Our £1.3bn transformation programme demonstrates our long-term commitment to providing a great airport experience for passengers who travel through Manchester. I'm delighted to be announcing the go-ahead for the final phase, which will open in 2025, connecting the people and businesses of the North to dozens more global destinations, and creating jobs and stimulating increased levels of trade and tourism."
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director of Manchester Airport, said: "It is hugely exciting to be announcing this significant investment in Manchester Airport. It represents a major milestone in the history of both our airport, and the region as a whole.
"By completing the transformation of Terminal 2, we will not only be offering passengers across the North an unrivalled choice of destinations, but also providing them with world class facilities and a great overall experience when they travel through Manchester.
"I cannot wait to see the plans come to fruition, for the benefit of all of our customers, colleagues and supporters."
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "As the aviation industry recovers after Covid, it's great news to see this significant vote of confidence in the UK.
"This investment will be a huge boost for the North, benefitting passengers flying in and out of the region as well as supporting thousands of jobs."
The expanded Terminal 2 has already welcomed a number of new airlines to Manchester, and seen the launch or relaunch of a string of key routes such as a brand-new service to Kuwait, a revived service to Beijing and a first UK Transatlantic base for AerLingus.
Enabling works for the second phase of the project are already underway, and planned improvements include:
- Doubling the size of the existing departure lounge, with a wider selection of shops and food and drink outlets, showcasing the best of what the North has to offer
- The construction of an additional security hall, fitted with next-generation security scanners.
- A new pier, matching the look and feel of the first pier that opened in 2019. It will include spacious gates
- A new dual taxiway system to improve airfield efficiency, with flexible aircraft stands
- More than doubling the terminal's hold baggage capacity to over 5,000 bags per hour, with two new teardrop check in islands
Comments
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Arriving back at Terminal 1 a couple of weeks ago, I felt a sense of guilt that this was a "gateway" to the UK for overseas visitors.
It's shabby, difficult to navigate and staffed (to a large extent) by demotivated jobsworths.
It's about time that Manchester started to act and operate like a modern airport and then perhaps it will rid itself of the unenviable reputation that it currently has as a business.
Meanwhile, Manchester Airport (owned in part by the same Manchester Council so very concerned with clean air) continues to expand relentlessly.
You might conclude that the Manchester CAZ scheme is a money making scam and has absolutely nothing to do with clean air.