Spent most of Friday in and around the airport to observe the on-going developments across the site and to take advantage of the beautiful weather the UK is currently experiencing.

In T2 the new check in zone B is complete with it’s polished tiles and I must say it does look smart, it’s not a mirror image of the new area in terms of the desks layout, but personally I prefer this layout. Zone A is closed off and in the middle of it’s refurbishment, whilst zone C is open but the desks are being installed.

I haven’t been to the station area where the buses and coaches are located for a long time so it’s nice to see this area brightened up with the new yellow Bee signs and colouring, the previous touch screens have been taken out and not replaced so a backwards step there but other than that, it’s looking that bit more modern, just the toilets now to refurbish, it’s like stepping back to the 90’s in those current toilets!
I also notice there are plenty of new yellow signs in T2 arrivals and in the skylink directing passengers towards the station for all the different transport methods on offer, which was much needed.

On the airfield, I’ve noticed that stand 29 on pier C is now back open and now with the 1 airbridge, stand 31 has now closed for removal of an airbridge, to also leave this stand with just the one. Stand 47 in T3 is closed for the removal of what I think was the connection between T3 and a previous airbridge to allow for more room so it can become a code C stand, therefore Ryanair can park their aircraft there.

Lots of activity as expected on pier 2, the side facing pier 1 looks more advanced in terms of the apron area. Whilst the new taxiway works between pier B and the STS hanger seems to be taken an absolute age, but it’s my assumption this won’t be operational until the new taxiway towards T2 and pier 1/2 is also ready, this requires the remote stands outside of the cargo sheds to be removed and therefore pier 2 to be fully operational, so my guess is June/July…?

My inkling concerning the eventual transfer of easyJet to T2, is that as currently planned, they will move over in October when the winter schedule kicks in, once the rest of T2 opens, there is more of a justification then. Whether T2 can cope with the overall easyJet operation, along with all other airlines (except of course Ryanair) is another question.
I don’t know if a split operation across T1 & T2 could work for easyJet? It worked for Jet2, I think this set up was for around 4/5 years and would keep pier C open until the new pier is built (hopefully!).
As for pier B, maybe this could be used by easyJet and Ryanair for arrivals at night only, but passengers bussed to the immigration? And then during the first wave of departures in the morning, again passengers bussed to the aircraft? It’s an embarrassment for both departures and arrivals!


Finally, I see most of the barriers for exiting the terminals and the station have now gone, still some left, to exit T1 next to the 2 storey car park, they are still operational, but the removal of these barriers in general is good news, the traffic in the summer was horrific at times!
 
Does anyone know if the new security scanners are all now installed in T1 security A?
I know security B has them all as friends recently travelled to with easyJet.
T2 is complete as I travelled through only 2 weeks ago.
 
My latest trip through the airport this time was through T3 for both trips, arriving on the 8th May at 10.20am, hand luggage only, so I was out of the airport 15 mins after disembarkation. Another flight from Tenerife had landed just before our's, no queue at passport control but as both flights were full and most passengers had luggage to collect, it was quite busy in the baggage hall. A 15 min walk then to the train station, roll on when they (and hopefully) replace the travelator's!.

My return flight yesterday saw me arrive at 4.45am, again hand luggage only. Security queue was almost non-existent, no complaints there! However, I noticed the screen above the security machine showing a 24.1% rejection rate for this lane (no 11) and my tray was 1 of 7 trays rejected (6 different people), I was waiting for 15 mins just to have my bag swabbed, so no reason was given, therefore I assumed a random check?!
Not a huge wait and it certainly didn't inconvenience me, but it's unacceptable to have such a high rate of rejections, compared to other airports! Departure area was far too busy as usual, but only had 30 mins to wait until flight was boarding, departing from gate 54 on time at 6.30am.

Just as I write this, I read about the announcement from MAG on the improvements to be made to T3. Good news and of course, long overdue! Although, they haven't included anything in their announcement regarding the immigration and baggage claim areas, which are in desperate need of extensions, if there's more than 3 Ryanair arrivals during the evening, it's a cattle market!
There is mention of using some of the current T1 space to increase the size of T3 departures, I also hope they will be using some of the current T3 landside departure areas (current check in and security areas) towards these departure improvements.
Also, the current T1 lounges which will close once the remaining airlines transfer to T2, space becomes available in this area too, which are already located along the southern front, therefore in between both T1 & T3.
Lastly and not least, is the walkway to the departure area along the southern front. We know there will be a new walkway from the security area in T1 along the southern front, but I hope it cuts out the current narrow corridor we have today and having to sometimes stop prior to gate 141 to allow passengers to board a flight, this set-up should have been stopped years ago, it's insane!

Finally, my next trip is with EasyJet through T1 in June flying to Kos. If they are still transferring over to T2 in the autumn/winter period, then this will be my last ever departure and arrival through T1. I will provide another trip report for this potential last visit after my holiday.
 
I'm not sure what the impact of these CFMU Tactical updates are but this is showing since the 1907utc publication.

EGCC (Manchester)
Arrivals regulated due to Aerodrome Capacity (WIP).
Moderate to high delays.
 
I'm not sure what the impact of these CFMU Tactical updates are but this is showing since the 1907utc publication.

EGCC (Manchester)
Arrivals regulated due to Aerodrome Capacity (WIP).
Moderate to high delays.

Have you got a link?
 
Thanks for the link. I cannot see anything about restrictions at MAN.

If you click on the historic tab, then look down to around 1900 yesterday where there is an entry, then click on that. You should see the entry BlueManc copied in their post.

Unless it is a live restriction it won’t show on that initial page.
 
MAN looking like a proper international airport today! Widebodies + 1 MS below.

Not bad for a ‘regional’ airport.

Arrivals

0155 TOM2551 PFO 788
0230 LS868 DLM 332
0250 LS920 TFS 332
0325 TOM2575 LCA 788
0410 TOM2571 HER 788
0550 TOM157 PUJ 789
0630 QR021 DOH 789
0645 HU753 PEK 333
0650 HO1661 PVG 789
0705 EI034 MCO 333
0705 EY077 AUH 77W
0715 GF005 BAH 789
0745 EK021 DXB 388
0745 VS128 JFK 351
0755 CX259 HKG 351
0830 ET729 ADD 77W
0835 TOM147 CUN 789
0835 VS110 ATL 351
0915 SQ302 SIN 359
0940 VS086 LAS 333
1005 6E031 BOM 789
1020 AC908 YYZ 333
1030 VS074 MCO 333
1130 KU113 KWI 338
1140 TS206 YYZ 332
1200 EK017 DXB 388
1255 SV123 JED 781
1300 TOM2621 ALC 788
1325 LS832 PMI 332
1330 MS781 CAI 32Q
1330 QR027 DOH 351
1350 TOM2609 MAH 788
1415 LS876 FAO 332
1420 TOM2623 PMI 788
1855 EY075 AUH 789
1915 EK019 DXB 388
2010 QR023 DOH 789

CCGE29
 
Since it’s a current topic of conversation, and in lieu of a T3 thread, this might be worth a repost

IMG-0397.jpg
 
Interesting that they give consideration to the walking distance. In the bus industry "All buildings should be located within 400 metres from a bus stop." is the aspiration. Is there something similar for airport designers to consider?
 
Interesting that they give consideration to the walking distance. In the bus industry "All buildings should be located within 400 metres from a bus stop." is the aspiration. Is there something similar for airport designers to consider?
In 1993 the airport were rightly proud of how few steps were needed from drop off to gate. Not anymore.
 

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survived a redundancy scenario where I work for the 3rd time. Now it looks likely I will get to cover work for 2 other teams.. Pretty please for a payrise? That would be a no and so stay on the min wage.
Live in Market Bosworth and take each day as it comes......
Well it looks like I'm off to Australia and New Zealand next year! Booked with BA from Manchester via Heathrow with a stop in Singapore and returning with Air New Zealand and BA via LAX to Heathrow. Will circumnavigate the globe and be my first trans-Pacific flight. First long haul flight with BA as well and of course Air NZ.
15 years at the same company was reached the weekend before last. Not sure how they will mark the occasion apart from the compulsory payirse to minimum wage (1st rise for 2 years; i was 15% above it back then!)
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Welcome to the forum, I was born and bred in Southampton.
Seems ĺike been under construction for donkeys years!

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