Manchester "super terminal" to open 2020

MANCHESTER - Manchester Airport revealed significant progress made on its £1bn transformation, with several months to go until it opens its new "super terminal". The UK’s third largest airport also released new images to showcase what passengers using the new facilities can expect next summer.

New features unveiled include a honeycomb light installation that illuminates the departure lounge.

A new 83 square metre digital screen will take centre stage in the new extension to provide entertainment and information to passengers. There will also be a new children’s play area to help families pass the time before heading on their travels. Dozens of new retail outlets will also open when the existing terminal building reopens.

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

"Once they are up and running, further facilities will start operating during the rest of 2020, including the first of the new island check-in desk banks and the new baggage reclaim facilities," the airport said in a statement. 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.

Terminal 2 redo

The fully reconfigured Terminal 2 will open in 2022 with 32 new shops and food and beverage outlets set to feature in that area. The completed Terminal Two will be 150% bigger than the current building once finished.


Pier Two will also open at that time and will be a similar size to Pier One. It will have the capability to handle the world’s largest passenger aircraft, the double-decker A380 and will also include airline lounges. The remaining terminal and airfield infrastructure is due to open in 2024.

"Our £1bn transformation will allow us to continue playing our role as the UK’s global gateway in the North, offering our 29.5m annual passengers and the entire region a world class airport, connecting them to a wealth of vital economic and tourist hubs," Manchester airport CEO Andrew Cowan said.