UK. Manchester Airport will open its Terminal 2 extension on Wednesday 14 July, with Jet2, TUI and Singapore Airlines the first airlines to move to the new facility. The extended terminal is the centrepiece of Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG) £1 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), which was first announced in 2015. It was scheduled to open in Summer 2020, but was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The commercial offer (announced first in 2019) will initially include Pret-a-Manger, Costa Coffee, KFC, The Amber Alehouse and The Bridgewater Exchange by Joseph Holt. Well-known Manchester burger chain Archie’s will open on Thursday, as will juice bar VIT, with more to follow once the terminal is fully open. The airport company said that all food & beverage outlets have committed to High Street pricing. Retailers include World Duty Free (with design by The Design Solution), WHSmith, JD Sports and others.
Click on the video above for a glimpse at the transformed T2 at Manchester Airport
Manchester Airport Managing Director Karen Smart said: “After a long wait, we are delighted to confirm the first passengers will be able to enjoy our new Terminal Two this week. It is a proud milestone for our airport as we begin to emerge from the restrictions brought about by the Covid-19 crisis, and an important moment in our 83-year history.
“This project was always about offering the modern airport experience that families and businesses across the North deserve as they travel through their international gateway to the world, and our new terminal certainly delivers on that goal.
“As government restrictions continue to be eased, and travel to more destinations is opened up in the weeks ahead, we will be making further announcements about the carriers and retailers operating from T2.”
The expanded terminal has a “light, bright and airy” Check-In Hall, said MAG. A new security zone has ten, 29m long lanes that use new technology to facilitate quick passenger processing.
New features of the departure lounge include a honeycomb light installation with 16 million settings that illuminates the space. An 81sq m digital screen will provide interactive content and information to passengers. Manchester Airport’s Escape and 1903 Lounges will both feature airside in the new terminal.
The arrivals zone will see a new immigration facility open, which is four times larger than the current space. A modern new baggage reclaim will also open, with three of eight new baggage belts starting to operate.
In addition to the new terminal, the Transformation Programme also saw the creation of a new car park, T2 Multi Storey West, which was completed in 2019. Both this car park and the pre-existing T2 car park, now known as T2 Multi Storey East, will be open from Wednesday.
MAG has agreed a staggered launch of the terminal with its airline partners. It will see Jet2 start flying from 14 July, with just three flights on the first day – to Menorca, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. TUI will operate flights from the terminal from 15 July, with services to a range of destinations including green-listed Malta and Madeira. Singapore Airlines will move over on 17 July.
The six-year terminal extension project has been spearheaded by construction firm Laing O’Rourke, alongside partners such as architects Pascall + Watson, design consultancy Arcadis, airfield works contractor Galliford Try, engineering and architectural services contractor Jacobs and baggage contractor Vanderlande Industries.
