UK. Manchester Airports Group (MAG) today announced a £440 million investment in Manchester Airport, which the company said will transform the passenger experience at the UK’s third largest airport.
Key features will include a diverse array of shops, bars, restaurants and airport lounges alongside the introduction of new technology to smooth the traveller journey.
The investment is the final phase of the £1.3 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), first announced in 2015 with a ten-year vision to “revolutionise the customer experience”.
The first phase saw Terminal 2 more than double in size upon opening in July 2021. This latest investment will complete the transformation.
Click on the video for a snapshot of how the completed T2 transformation will appear
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.
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.
- 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 check-in islands.
More than 500 jobs will be created in the construction phase, 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 research – by York Aviation – reveals that Manchester Airport’s current contribution to the Northern economy of £3.5 billion is expected to soar by nearly 80%, to £6.3 billion by 2040.
A further £2.9 billion boost will be triggered through the increased productivity of businesses travelling and trading globally through Manchester over the same period, said the research.
The expanded Terminal 2 has already welcomed a number of new airlines to Manchester, and seen the launch or relaunch of key routes. These include a new service to Kuwait, a revived service to Beijing and a first UK transatlantic base for Aer Lingus.
MAG CEO Charlie Cornish 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 £1.3 billion 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.”
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe 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.” 
