BRITS will soon be able to travel through one of the country’s busiest airports in style thanks to a huge £1.3billion transformation.
A huge renovation project at Manchester Airport is nearing completion, with plenty of brand-new facilities that will excite passengers.
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The £1.3billion project, which was first announced back in 2015, was split into two phases.
The early stages of the project saw Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2 more than double in size before its west side reopened to passengers in July 2021.
Now in its final phase, work is focusing on the east side of Terminal 2, including a second pier with additional boarding gates.
Construction work on the pier began back in June 2023, and it is nearly complete, as reported by Marketing Stockport.
When the brand-new pier opens, it will double the aircraft capacity at Manchester Airport.
Airbus A380 passenger jets will also compatible with the new boarding gates.
There are plenty of other features for passengers to get excited about when the expansion opens in 2025, including 27 new restaurants, bars and shops.
Specific shops will be announced later this year but several local brands including Manchester brewers Joseph Holt and Seven Bro7hers are slated to be inside the revamped terminal.
According to Time Out, the revamped Terminal 2 at Manchester Airport will feature a “market-style food hall” and there will also be a “boutique shopping area”.
There will also be a champagne bar, artisan cafes and a brasserie.
A new security hall, complete with 3D scanners, will also be added during this phase as well as a new dual taxiway system that’s been designed to improve airfield efficiency.
Earlier this year, Manchester Airports Group, which runs Manchester, East Midlands and Stansted airports, confirmed that its 3D scanners will be fully rolled out in 2025.
When the west side of Terminal 2 opens in 2025, it will become the main terminal at Manchester Airport, catering for more than 70 per cent of passengers.
Jill Fraser, Manchester Airport Transformation Programme delivery director, said: “The last 12 months have seen an incredible amount of work and it’s amazing to see the project really taking shape.
“From the creation of more than 500 jobs, to the work to improve the way the airfield works – this is a huge project but one that will have so many benefits for our passengers.
“We’ve already started to see some of the benefits of the programme, with our passengers who have used Terminal 2 giving amazing feedback and the award of the prestigious Prix Versailles.
“And the exciting thing is that we’ve not even finished yet – so we’re looking forward to an epic 18 months ahead. We’re proud to connect the North to the world and are looking forward to passengers seeing everything we deliver.”
Manchester Airport isn’t the only UK airport currently undergoing huge renovation works.
Airport renovation projects
Teesside Airport, which was named the best small airport, has revealed plans for a new £20million train station.
Meanwhile, Leeds Bradford Airport has started its £100million renovation project, which includes a three-storey terminal extension as well as better seats and facilities inside.
And Gatwick Airport revealed its £250million refurbishment, which reopened last year.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
Katowice Airport, Poland
After hitting 5.61 million passengers in 2023, the airport announced a massive four-year improvement project.
- Its main upgrade will be a new central passenger terminal, with the 527,000sqft building having new jet bridges and a new tunnel connecting the airport to the train station.
- The two-storey terminal costs around PLN950million (£186million).
- It will have a new check-in and arrivals hall, as well as a security area, passport control and departures zone.
A new concourse, airport entrance, escalators and lifts were installed at Gatwick Airport train station, with new track upgrades also speeding up trains to and from the terminals.
A new airport is set to soon launch in Europe – with easyJet operating the first passenger flights from the UK.
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