Manchester: Airport Transformation Programme

[LS@MAN]

Been a while since the last update so here goes -

T2

The Great Northern Market opens this coming Tuesday 3rd. Has around a 400 seating capacity with a great variety of choices! Ft Gooey plus a fair few kitchens including Fried Chicken, Smash Burgers, Italian, Greek & Asian. Ordering is online which allows punters to order from any of the different outlets on the same tab. Also ability to order via Kiosks. Opening times 0330-2000.

In arrivals, the two escalators in T2 East are due to open next week following full replacement - this should alleviate the queues at the lifts.

Domestic Arrivals has moved to the Eastern end of T2 however the arrivals route via the VCC has been delayed yet again.

T1’s C Pier has now internally been ripped out, all of the arrivals/departures glass panels have been removed making the pier feel much bigger. It will be operated in full departures or full arrivals configuration depending on the time of day. Trials will begin in March.

Concrete bay replacements on Lima are due to conclude this week, this will facilitate the opening of the full length of Echo later in the month.

T3

Boots in departures has now closed - this are will be refurbished as an extended seating area with a new food and beverage outlet. Sporting Chance, the new bar in the old BA Lounge is on track to open this spring.

In arrivals, a convenience store is planned in the old Spar unit under the stairs. This keeps getting delayed so unsure on an opening date.

Out on the airfield, stands 16 & 17 are both on track to be completed the second week of April with both stands upgraded to max 32Q. Stand 47 is also having full reconstruction due to finish towards the end of March.

Stand 57 to become a contact stand - has been planned for the last three years but keeps getting delayed however it should be completed in early Summer.

This will give T3 21 contact stands.

Stand 12 is due to be reconfigured, with the introduction of stand 14. This will allow 3x code C aircraft to use the stand 12 footprint at any one time.

CCGE29

Hi @CCGE29 as we are now in a new month I just wondered if there are any changes to your last update or any new updates?
Thanks as always.

 

[Sean Fish]

Interesting that MAG are saying that T1 closes early next year.

Paid a visit to the airport yesterday to find out that T1 landside has been renamed ‘T3 Departure’ and T3 landside has been renamed ‘T3 Arrival’.
Presumably this is how MAG defines ‘the closure of T1’ then.

Did a bit of search afterwards and it turns out the change just took place the day before:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029227157025587416

https://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/parking/terminal-and-parking-name-changes/

 

[BLB777]

Taxiway Echo between 1-5 has opened this evening, both arrivals and departures currently using the new taxiway

 

[Trumpington]

Are cargo sheds demolition and new remotes stands due to start this year? Any rumours re Pier 3, if ever?!

 

[LS@MAN]

Are cargo sheds demolition and new remotes stands due to start this year? Any rumours re Pier 3, if ever?!

I believe demolition is due to start soon but no idea ref timeline of the completion of these new stands.

I’m sure Pier 3 will eventually be announced, once the budget exists for it. Current T2 completion and T3 expansion are now the priorities.

 

[GEB74]

Passed through late this afternoon.
Sporting Chance in T3 is open now. Did not go in as was in lounge until just before boarding, didn’t realise it had soft opened till I walked past the stairs.
Lion and Antelope is already closed with the whole area shrouded off. They were emptying all the chairs and tables into a skip as I left.
The Escape lounge was dead and shut just after 5. Warning - they have a field mouse infestation!! Literally mice scurrying round the unused / unlit area at the rear of the lounge, obviously I let them know…..

 

[BLB777]

Saw this on LinkedIn, interesting read

Manchester Airport Enables Mixed Terminals with Amadeus Biometrics | Amadeus

Manchester Airport Terminal 2 uses Amadeus biometrics to enable mixed domestic and international flows, achieving 99% automated identity reconciliation. Learn more.

amadeus.com

 

[Tho]

Passed through late this afternoon.
Sporting Chance in T3 is open now. Did not go in as was in lounge until just before boarding, didn’t realise it had soft opened till I walked past the stairs.
Lion and Antelope is already closed with the whole area shrouded off. They were emptying all the chairs and tables into a skip as I left.
The Escape lounge was dead and shut just after 5. Warning - they have a field mouse infestation!! Literally mice scurrying round the unused / unlit area at the rear of the lounge, obviously I let them know…..

I presume the Escape lounge is the one that is in the old T1 area? Is that the only lounge that is now open for there or is 1903 open?

 

[GEB74]

Yes, the Escape Lounge is the lounge currently open.
The Aspire lounge is still ‘there’ and I do wonder if it will reopen again for peak season. There was some talk it had been sold mind.
It’s telling there is advertising all over the terminal to get access to the Escape lounge as a walk up for “just £25 for an hours access” suggesting premium lounge usage for RYR customers at their current flight schedule level is not exactly filling the available capacity…..

 

[LS@MAN]

Still impossible to book a lounge in T2! There is meant to be a new lounge opening before the summer (can’t remember if it’s an Escape or Aspire?). Plus the overdue Emirates lounge is set to open before the summer holidays.

 

[LS@MAN]

Almost into April and is there any update on the remaining works to be done in T2?
Specifically the final domestic arrivals route? I will be using this process for the first time in June and the speed at which this stage of the process is going, I have no faith it’s going to be finished by the summer!

 

[Seasider]

My first observation, last Saturday, of the new arrangements and I would imagine the airlines aren't very happy with the increase in taxying and extra fuel costs.
I don't think that they will get Ryanair to move over!

 

[LS@MAN]

My first observation, last Saturday, of the new arrangements and I would imagine the airlines aren't very happy with the increase in taxying and extra fuel costs.
I don't think that they will get Ryanair to move over!

It’s no different to taxiing and holding on the taxiways at the likes of Heathrow or Amsterdam to be honest, I don’t think it’s a massive issue and in fact with the new dual taxiway system now in place, it should be quicker than before!
Ryanair aren’t going anywhere. T3 is their home and it’s never been planned or thought of to move them over to T2.

 

[marni1971]

Indeed. All we can hope for is domestics move back to a tarted up T3.

 

[Liverpoola380]

My hope is that when pier 3 is complete. It will have a domestic arrivals route. It will also allow for shorter taxi routes on the Domestic / Channel Islands flights.

 

[Seasider]

It’s no different to taxiing and holding on the taxiways at the likes of Heathrow or Amsterdam to be honest, I don’t think it’s a massive issue and in fact with the new dual taxiway system now in place, it should be quicker than before!
Ryanair aren’t going anywhere. T3 is their home and it’s never been planned or thought of to move them over to T2.

I was commenting about "before and after" at MAN

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Indeed. All we can hope for is domestics move back to a tarted up T3.

I respectfully disagree. Same-Terminal transfer is a big positive. MAN was not able to offer this before. Ryanair Group don't do interline at MAN, so all business opportunities in this area involve carriers which now use T2.

 

[LS@MAN]

I was commenting about "before and after" at MAN

OK, then maybe I misunderstood you. But, yes the taxi times have increased but like I said, with the new dual taxiway system in place now it shouldn’t normally be much longer than previously when BA and Loganair were in T3.

 

[KARFA]

yes better than it was late last year, but it's still significantly longer than when BA were in T3. i don't see how you can argue otherwise.

 

[LS@MAN]

yes better than it was late last year, but it's still significantly longer than when BA were in T3. i don't see how you can argue otherwise.

Yes, I accept that. I’m certainly not arguing just stating that it has improved since the new dual taxiway system is in place.
I will be experiencing this process in June when I arrive on a shuttle service for the first time in T2. I just hope the new arrivals route is in place by then!