Manchester Airport shows progress made to £1 billion ‘super terminal’

A visual of the new check-in area at Manchester Airport's 'super terminal' (credit: Manchester Airport).

With an aim to open in summer 2020, Manchester Airport has revealed the progress made to its £1 billion ‘super terminal’.

New features unveiled include a honeycomb light installation that illuminates the departure lounge that, with 16 million settings, will change colours depending on the time of day. There will also be a new 83 square metre digital screen in the new extension to provide entertainment and information to passengers and a new children’s play area will aim to help families pass the time before heading on their travels.

New shops will also open in the departure lounge including JD Sports, WHSmiths and Dixons Travel and dozens of new retail outlets will also open when the existing terminal building reopens. 

“Our £1 billion transformation will allow us to continue playing our role as the UK’s global gateway in the North, offering our 29.5 million annual passengers and the entire region a world-class airport, connecting them to a wealth of vital economic and tourist hubs,” said Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport. “We’re delighted with the progress that’s been made on the project and we can’t wait for passengers to experience the new facilities next summer. 

“The new extension will offer a real step change to our passengers with state-of-the-art facilities and a great selection of shops and restaurants for them to enjoy.”

The first phase of the terminal extension is set to open in July 2020 and will see a brand-new security hall, the departure lounge, the immigration hall, arrivals hall and the new bus gate lounge open to passengers. 

Further facilities will then start operating during the rest of 2020, the airport has said, including the first of the new ‘island’ check-in desk banks and the new baggage reclaim facilities. As the various elements of the new extension open, the airport will start to close parts of the existing Terminal Two to allow for that area to be reconfigured to align with the new facilities.

The fully reconfigured Terminal Two will open in 2022 with 32 new shops and food and beverage outlets set to feature in that area, Manchester airport continued, and the completed Terminal Two will be 150 per cent bigger than the current building once finished.

The airport has also said that Pier Two will open at that time and will have the capability to handle the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the double-decker A380 and include airline lounges. The remaining terminal and airfield infrastructure is due to open in 2024, it said. 

The completed extension will achieve BREEAM status of very good for its sustainability credentials, the airport said, with other environmental developments including fixed electric ground power points on all new stands (which means aircraft don’t have to leave their engines running when parked up) and an efficient combined heat and power system.

This is one of the largest construction projects in the North of England, the airport said, with £688 million so far being spent on it. It also has over 1,800 people currently working on the project and more than £300 million being spent with firms in the North West.