UK’s third largest airport sets out programme of enhancements worth up to £1 billion over the next ten years
Manchester Airport Unveils Ten Year Transformation Programme
UK’s third largest airport sets out programme of enhancements worth up to £1 billion over the next ten years
New state-of-the art facilities for airlines and passengers
Manchester Airports Group (M.A.G) has announced a 10-year investment programme for Manchester Airport that will transform the airport, ensuring that it continues to thrive as a national asset and plays an even greater role as the UK’s global gateway from the North.
The ‘Manchester Airport Transformation Programme’ is a series of 60 enhancements that will provide the millions of passengers that use the airport every year with facilities that combine a contemporary look and feel with state of the art services.
Manchester Airport is the UK’s third largest airport and the preferred choice for millions of people looking to fly. With two runways, the airport has significant capacity for growth and already serves over 70 airlines and in excess of 210 short and long haul destinations. Manchester Airport is the only UK airport outside of London with direct routes to a host of global destinations including Miami, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Singapore, Atlanta, Washington and Boston.
Manchester Airport will also play a key role in delivering a Northern Powerhouse, with the airport currently supporting £1.8 billion every year in economic activity in the local and regional economy. The airport already employs 20,000 people on site and supports a further 25,000 indirectly.
The key elements of the Transformation Programme include:
• The expansion and reconfiguring of Terminal 2, to become the airport’s primary terminal building
• Improvement of Terminal 3 to cater for increased demand and an expanding flight schedule
• The introduction of new and enlarged airside transfer facilities, including the direct linkage between Terminals 2 and 3
• US pre-clearance facility, allowing passengers to clear immigration, customs, and agricultural inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) before boarding their flight
• Introduction of the latest technology in a new, enlarged security hall that will screen more passengers, quicker
• The introduction of a host of new customer friendly enhancements, including self-service check-in facilities and around 50 food and beverage and retail outlets
• Creation of a ‘future-proofed’ operational airport environment that provides greater flexibility and resilience to cater to evolving airline and security needs
• The introduction of new stands and piers, offering better departure gate facilities
• Improved surface access road system making it easier for customers to come to and from our airport
The Transformation Programme will adopt a phased approach to implementation of the improvements so as to ensure minimal disruption to airport operations, passengers and airlines. The £1 billion programme updates and re-profiles existing long term capital investment plans and reflects the Group’s ongoing commitment to maintaining its strong investment-grade credit rating.
The improvements will be delivered inside the existing footprint of the airport and are consistent with the established guidance provided by the Manchester Airport Master Plan; that growth will be phased, incremental and making best use of the existing terminal campus area.
The Rt. Hon George Osborne, MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer said:
“Today's announcement of £1 billion of private sector investment in Manchester Airport is a massive vote of confidence in the North of England and in our plan to build a Northern Powerhouse.
“The investment, which will completely transform Manchester Airport and double its capacity, will help ensure that it continues to compete with global airports across the world.
“It will play a key role in this one nation government’s plan to rebalance the UK economy and boost productivity and is fantastic news for working people across the North.”
The Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, said:
“The £1bn investment in new terminal facilities at Manchester Airport shows the confidence and ambition of Britain’s airports to be among the world’s best.
“This programme of improvements will allow Manchester to help meet the UK's aviation needs in the coming decades - something that will be of huge value not only to passengers and airlines, but also in creating jobs and transforming the Northern Powerhouse’s transport links.”
Commenting on the ‘Manchester Airport Transformation Programme’, Charlie Cornish, Chief Executive of M.A.G, said: “Manchester Airport is thriving as a national asset, forming a key component of the UK’s aviation infrastructure at a time when airport capacity in the country is at a premium.
“The region in which the airport operates and serves has seen a pace of change in recent years almost unmatched by any other in the United Kingdom and we are proud of the role that we have played in driving economic growth – both across the North and the UK as a whole.
“Manchester Airport has responded well to the considerable changes in the aviation industry over the last 20 years and we have invested heavily to meet the needs of our airline customers, passengers and local communities.
“Today, we’re setting out how the airport will contribute to the development of a Northern Powerhouse and demonstrating the dynamic, can-do spirit that sums up the region. The Transformation Programme will ensure Manchester Airport plays its full part in driving economic growth and develops as a key part of the UK transport infrastructure, within a nationwide network of competing airports.
“We continue to work closely with our airline partners to ensure that their requirements and those of their passengers will be fully catered for, both during the programme design and build and upon its completion.
“Over the next ten years, the airport will continue to develop as a global gateway for the UK, directly to and from the North, and these enhancements will enable us to further adapt, modernise and transform the customer service experience we are able to offer.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, added: “Manchester Airport plays a vital economic role in the region in which it serves. Its annual passenger numbers last year topped a record 22 million and it provides jobs for 20,000 people on site and a further 25,000 indirectly.
"Greater Manchester and the rest of the North West is increasingly competing on an international stage and an airport that is better suited to serving these global aspirations will significantly improve the impact the region can have in attracting inward and outward investment, helping it to realise its full economic potential and create further jobs and opportunities."
Christian Seymour, from IFM Investors, 35.5% shareholders in M.A.G, said: “As one of the largest airport operators in the UK, M.A.G has an outstanding track record of successful airport management.
“Since acquiring our stake just over two years ago, we have been delighted with the progress the Group has made in terms of implementing its capital investment plan and growing passengers and revenues. Of particular note is the turnaround M.A.G has achieved at London Stansted, transforming it into the fastest growing major airport in the country in just two years.
“M.A.G’s airports across the UK have a key role to play in meeting the country’s aviation capacity needs and today’s announcement is a strong signal of the company’s commitment and ambition to deliver on that.”
Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive, easyJet said: “Manchester Airport’s vision offers a range of opportunities for easyJet which will directly benefit our passengers’ experience and our operations at the airport.
“easyJet is committed to long term growth at Manchester Airport and the programme offers us an excellent opportunity through which to achieve this over the next decade. We look forward to working closely with the airport to maximise the design and implementation from both an airline and passenger perspective.”
Laurie Berryman, Vice President UK, Emirates said: “Emirates is delighted that Manchester Airport is committing to the £1 billion redevelopment programme. Emirates will be celebrating 25 years at Manchester later this year and now operates three daily services to Dubai and beyond two of which are operated by the iconic Airbus A380.”
***Official Airport Press Release***
