Manchester: Airport Transformation Programme

[ian_h]

Be interesting to see how many departures there will be via Pier C stands/gates.
Also the east facing stands on pier B are meant to have Ryanair aircraft parked up overnight, unsure though if this is a bussing operation for passengers or if the aircraft’s will be towed over to a T3 stand?

Bussing seems likely while they work on pier B internally but eventually it will be restored as a walking link from T3 (like the tipperary lounge was originally).

 

[LS@MAN]

Bussing seems likely while they work on pier B internally but eventually it will be restored as a walking link from T3 (like the tipperary lounge was originally).

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if pier B was would be retained and linked to T3, makes sense with Ryanair being the sole operator in T3.

 

[CCGE29]

I suspect thats the idea, the current plan seems to be:

old T1 Pier C will be partitioned from the "old t1" and used as a satellite pier for T2 with passengers bussed to it but some facilities inside WC, WH Smiths etc and a mini refresh / refurb to reflect the other piers at T2 (signage, etc)

Think of how the piers at Stansted work, once you are bussed (or at stn use the stn transit) you're waiting in the pier for your flight with no walking route back to the main terminal.

The above would be correct.

T1 B-Pier is being used for remote parking. There’s an FR aircraft on stand 7 just now.
There’s still EZY aircraft on the rest of B-Pier which will be towed over to T2 this morning.

This evening you will see a mix of LS/TOM/EZY/FR parked across the old T1 stands.

CCGE29

 

[Trumpington]

I suspect thats the idea, the current plan seems to be:

old T1 Pier C will be partitioned from the "old t1" and used as a satellite pier for T2 with passengers bussed to it but some facilities inside WC, WH Smiths etc and a mini refresh / refurb to reflect the other piers at T2 (signage, etc)

Think of how the piers at Stansted work, once you are bussed (or at stn use the stn transit) you're waiting in the pier for your flight with no walking route back to the main terminal.

I guess all will be revealed, we'll see in 'flesh' soon enough now!

 

[ian_h]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering if pier B was would be retained and linked to T3, makes sense with Ryanair being the sole operator in T3.

FR are the sole operator "for now" 😉

 

[Curious Pax]

FR are the sole operator "for now" 😉

Interesting implication. Putting 2 and 2 together and making at least 6 perhaps the plan is for another large lo cost to go there if they start flights as is rumoured.

 

[CCGE29]

Interesting implication. Putting 2 and 2 together and making at least 6 perhaps the plan is for another large lo cost to go there if they start flights as is rumoured.

I think you may have made 4…

All will be revealed soon…

CCGE29

 

[EGCC_MAN]

And those two Southern Front stands are being reconfigured to be A321neo capable (as well as B38M).

 

[ian_h]

Interesting implication. Putting 2 and 2 together and making at least 6 perhaps the plan is for another large lo cost to go there if they start flights as is rumoured.

 

[Dtayl01-10]

I’m hoping in 2026, the airport will reveal plans for Pier 3 to create much needed extra capacity for future growth within T2.

 

[Trumpington]

I’m hoping in 2026, the airport will reveal plans for Pier 3 to create much needed extra capacity for future growth within T2.

Don't hold your breath. Think T3 re config main priority now

Watched Macc Aviation live stream. Can see Pier C airbridges in use. Jet 2 and Tui using in main. Ryanair fully occupying old BA stands on Pier A. Easyjet all clusterd around Pier B, one Ryanair on Eastern side. A380 on Pier 2, upper bridge appears to have connected! Just waiting echo taxiway fully opening now, dont think will be long, lots of road sweepers in place!

Watched Macc Aviation live stream. Can see Pier C airbridges in use. Jet 2 and Tui using in main. Ryanair fully occupying old BA stands on Pier A. Easyjet all clusterd around Pier B, one Ryanair on Eastern side. A380 on Pier 2, upper bridge appears to have connected! Just waiting echo taxiway fully opening now, dont think will be long, lots of road sweepers in place!

 

[MKY661]

I also notice for gates inside the new pier (C gates) on both the airport’s website and FR24 these gates are not shown. The website just says “go to gate”, whilst for other gates in both T2 & T3 the gate assignment is shown.

This hasn’t been working since the Pier become operational, and it also hasn’t worked on other places like FR24 and Flighty. Hopefully it will be fixed soon, as the latter two are a good way to get your gate early so you can get there before it gets busy!

 

[LS@MAN]

Don't hold your breath. Think T3 re config main priority now

Watched Macc Aviation live stream. Can see Pier C airbridges in use. Jet 2 and Tui using in main. Ryanair fully occupying old BA stands on Pier A. Easyjet all clusterd around Pier B, one Ryanair on Eastern side. A380 on Pier 2, upper bridge appears to have connected! Just waiting echo taxiway fully opening now, dont think will be long, lots of road sweepers in place!

Watched Macc Aviation live stream. Can see Pier C airbridges in use. Jet 2 and Tui using in main. Ryanair fully occupying old BA stands on Pier A. Easyjet all clusterd around Pier B, one Ryanair on Eastern side. A380 on Pier 2, upper bridge appears to have connected! Just waiting echo taxiway fully opening now, dont think will be long, lots of road sweepers in place!

There are or were Jet2 and TUI parked on pier C, but only parked up and not in use for flights.
As already stated here by @CCGE29 most of the easyJet aircraft parked at T1 were going to be towed over to T2 stands during today.

Yes, upper airbridge auto leveller function seems to be working now.

And those two Southern Front stands are being reconfigured to be A321neo capable (as well as B38M).

Yes, as per our reliable source @CCGE29 works are meant to be complete by April 2026 to allow stands 16 & 17 to accommodate code C type aircraft side by side.

FR are the sole operator "for now" 😉

Do I detect a hint of pink & purple coming up…

 

[ian_h]

There are or were Jet2 and TUI parked on pier C, but only parked up and not in use for flights.
As already stated here by @CCGE29 most of the easyJet aircraft parked at T1 were going to be towed over to T2 stands during today.

Yes, upper airbridge auto leveller function seems to be working now.



Yes, as per our reliable source @CCGE29 works are meant to be complete by April 2026 to allow stands 16 & 17 to accommodate code C type aircraft side by side.



Do I detect a hint of pink & purple coming up…

A sprinkle of pink, a swish of purple would brighten up the spring dont you think?

 

[Seasider]

Not really, not everyone wants to make the trip to MAN to be able to fly to their chosen destination. 🙁

 

[LS@MAN]

A sprinkle of pink, a swish of purple would brighten up the spring dont you think?

Yes, indeed! 😁
Now I will send Santa a letter asking they open a base too 😉

Not really, not everyone wants to make the trip to MAN to be able to fly to their chosen destination. 🙁

Each to their own.

 

[ian_h]

Not really, not everyone wants to make the trip to MAN to be able to fly to their chosen destination. 🙁

you might be on the wrong thread then.

 

[Sean Fish]

Are we expecting Pier C to be used during the early morning wave and late night arrivals or during the day too? The way Pier C is set up due to it's age of same level arrivals / departures, it's a shame that only departures could be used in the future which would allow the glass partitions to be removed and therefore more space and most importantly removes the need to go down and up stairs to access gates 22/24/26.

I paid special attention to those three gates on my last trip from T1, and it certainly feels like the arrangement is awkwardly patched on. The narrow passageway that dives under the arrival channel looks like a repurposed emergency egress, not to mention the steep stairs and lack of lifts.
Makes me wonder if Pier C was built in an era when the segregation of departing and arriving passengers was not mandatory, and when the segregation was mandated afterwards the airport had to find a way to painfully bolt it on using glass partitions and unconfortable walkarounds.
(That may also be said for Pier B, where I realised the entire arrival side looks like a 'temporarily permanent' addition)

 

[MKY661]

Having a look at the airport’s website for T2 departures, EasyJet are using a mixture of stands this morning, D1, A1, A5 as some examples. I also notice for gates inside the new pier (C gates) on both the airport’s website and FR24 these gates are not shown. The website just says “go to gate”, whilst for other gates in both T2 & T3 the gate assignment is shown.

Apologies for quoting again, but as of tonight they are working on FR24 and Flighty, so will hopefully work on their website soon 🙂

 

[Dtayl01-10]

Jet2 are provisionally due to move into their new crew room on the 25th November 2025 which has been purpose built underneath Pier 2. Furthermore, this should hopefully mean the old bussing lounge will be dismantled and that stand can be brought into service.