Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

marni1971 · Jan 5, 2026

HX3 said:
That it really bad then @marni1971 it just looks totally unfinished.

Yep. I’m not a fan of the T2X design either. They’ve added so many bland boxes to T2 with this project it’s already looking like T1 - a look that the airport themselves said was detrimental in the TP planning application.

joshl257 said:
I think the airport should build a second car park where the current construction site office is.

The original plan was to extend the legacy MSCP (and originally to build the extension higher). Like a lot of T2X plans the money didn’t stretch.

Staffsflyer · Jan 5, 2026

As you guys have discussed, the exterior of the place leaves a lot to be desired. The zig zag shape of the VCC is absolutely bizarre, whoever put the design together for what is essentially a box still managed to somehow over design it and come up with that monstrosity. Impressive. Hopefully at least when the sheds have been demolished and the new stands created, this may pave the way for pier C to be demolished and pier 3 & 4 to be constructed. At least T2 functions well (from my experience).

Trumpington · Jan 6, 2026

Staffsflyer said:
As you guys have discussed, the exterior of the place leaves a lot to be desired. The zig zag shape of the VCC is absolutely bizarre, whoever put the design together for what is essentially a box still managed to somehow over design it and come up with that monstrosity. Impressive. Hopefully at least when the sheds have been demolished and the new stands created, this may pave the way for pier C to be demolished and pier 3 & 4 to be constructed. At least T2 functions well (from my experience).

We can only but dream. Pier 3 probably years away. Pier 4 can't see happening for a generation at least!

LS@MAN · Jan 26, 2026

Have all of the occupants moved out of the cargo / freight sheds now?

joshl257 · Jan 27, 2026

The airport has posted the Great Northern Market in T2 will be openings in February

LS@MAN · Jan 27, 2026

So Great Northern Market opens next month.
The new lounge and Emirates lounge, along with the permanent UK arrivals process, amber ale house extension and Wetherspoons due to open by the spring.
Also the last of the retail units to open in the east departure area.

Last time I was in T2 (30th December) the ceiling in the legacy T2 arrivals was still exposed and there were escalators still to be replaced up to legacy T2 check in, has this now been done or still a work in progress?

Bilko · Jan 27, 2026

Hi LS@MAN

I was in T2 arrivals last Friday and as you say the ceiling is still exposed I did actually ask a worker and he was not aware of any time scale at the moment for it all to be finished off and covered!!! Shrugged his shoulders and said that's MAG for you!!!

marni1971 · Jan 27, 2026

The 10 year project becomes 11. Will it stretch to 12?!

LS@MAN · Jan 27, 2026

Bilko said:
Hi LS@MAN

I was in T2 arrivals last Friday and as you say the ceiling is still exposed I did actually ask a worker and he was not aware of any time scale at the moment for it all to be finished off and covered!!! Shrugged his shoulders and said that's MAG for you!!!

Airport worker or contractor?
I had heard rumors the contractor were short staffed and departures was taking priority over arrivals which makes sense.

Trumpington · Jan 29, 2026

LS@MAN said:
Have all of the occupants moved out of the cargo / freight sheds now?

Not sure....wonder what the timeline is for demolition and concreting for new remote stands. Certainly need these in place before any contemplation of Pier 3 construction?

LS@MAN · Feb 1, 2026

Trumpington said:
Not sure....wonder what the timeline is for demolition and concreting for new remote stands. Certainly need these in place before any contemplation of Pier 3 construction?

Good question! Hopefully this year! Yes, I imagine this would be before pier 3 in terms of priorities.

As we are now in February, would be good to know how the progress of T3 is coming along. The new sports bar upstairs is due to open next month, but as for the other improvements it’s gone very quiet with the focus still on T2 pending completion of the TP and the airfield works.
@CCGE29 do you have any info you can elaborate on?
Many thanks.

BlueManc · Feb 1, 2026

There was scaffolding up to the letter M on the Manc ester sign.

CCGE29 · Feb 2, 2026

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

LS@MAN · Feb 2, 2026

CCGE29 said:
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

Thanks as always for your comprehensive updates.

Good news ref the glass panel removals in Pier C! I just hope they do a clean up on the outside of the airbridge’s too!
In T3 what about the old check in and security areas? Plenty of room there for additional seating and outlets…?

Ah stand 14! That takes me back to my days flying to Hamburg on a Lufthansa CRJ700, we would usually board this flight from stand 14 facing the end of pier B.
Does this mean that Pier B will eventually be linked to T3 or will passengers be bussed?

And last, but at no means least, are management actually going to do something ref the traffic situation into and out of T2?!

JamieT · Feb 2, 2026

T

CCGE29 said:
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

Thanks for the great update. I'm flying in and out this weekend to make a video about the 'BA experience' so good to hear I'll be able to see the new food market in T2. Forgive my ignorance but what's 'vcc' in respect to the arrivals process?

HX3 · Feb 2, 2026

Vertical circulation core.

LS@MAN · Feb 2, 2026

BlueManc said:
There was scaffolding up to the letter M on the Manc ester sign.

Yes, it looks like the M lighting has finally been replaced. The H is already lit up but the external letter h was blown off I believe a few years ago by strong winds.
Ah least the whole sign is now fully lit after many years!

KARFA · Feb 2, 2026

VCC is a fancy term for the large remote stand bussing point near stand 308.

MKY661 · Feb 2, 2026

CCGE29 said:
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

Thank you for the informative updates as always!

I would assume based on the info here for Pier C, it will be open for early morning departures and evening / late night arrivals? Also in regards to mentioning it being internally ripped out does this also mean new ceiling panels, signs and lighting etc.? Or is it just the new doors and removal of panels? It will be good to see the back of those steep stairs to the right hand side gates.

LS@MAN · Feb 3, 2026

MKY661 said:
Thank you for the informative updates as always!

I would assume based on the info here for Pier C, it will be open for early morning departures and evening / late night arrivals? Also in regards to mentioning it being internally ripped out does this also mean new ceiling panels, signs and lighting etc.? Or is it just the new doors and removal of panels? It will be good to see the back of those steep stairs to the right hand side gates.

If all of the glass panels have been removed, there will be no need to use the stairs to access gates 22/24 & 26 like previously.

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