Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

[LS@MAN]

Maybe still a long shot as we are only at the start of the winter period...but any sign of T2 (or T2X) opening when the airlines' summer schedule begins next year (late March/early April)?
With rumours of Wizz opening a base with 4 A/C, Ryanair and Easyjet increasing the number of their A/C, I would assume Pier B/C will be a mass of pink and orange A/C potentially come next summer.

 

[marni1971]

Maybe still a long shot as we are only at the start of the winter period...but any sign of T2 (or T2X) opening when the airlines' summer schedule begins next year (late March/early April)?
With rumours of Wizz opening a base with 4 A/C, Ryanair and Easyjet increasing the number of their A/C, I would assume Pier B/C will be a mass of pink and orange A/C potentially come next summer.

If I recall the last news from MAG was aiming to open T2X in February.

 

[gonetech]

Don't suppose anyone has a photo of the new 900 stands?

I think if you search on flickr for G-TUMG (or one of the others) there are some photos of the Max's parked up

 

[LS@MAN]

Had a walk around the outside of T2 & T2X today and since my last visit (August) I actually saw real life people moving about, both inside and outside the terminal (T2X). Inside check in & arrivals halls look almost complete minus a few floor tiles. Looking forward to eventually using this terminal.

On another note nice to see more activity such as EZY & Jet2 with flights restarting. T1 looks busier from the outside and I’m sure it is inside. Hopefully soon T2 & T3 will be back open.
Nice also to see Virgin flight to Bridgetown after a long absence and of course my day wouldn’t be complete without the beautiful A380...I worked on her at the beginning so nice to see her back regularly.

Stay safe everyone

 

[Scottie Dog]

Latest response I have just received to an enquiry with regards to T2X opening/works:

We are preparing the T2 extension for opening and will make the decision asap, based on the final confirmed flying programmes of the airlines and how that will build into summer. Obviously, some of it depends on the ability to conduct trials and the fit our schedules of retailers etc..

We will then move onto the work to modernise the T2 extension. As you can imagine, it is hard to communicate precise timescales for all of this at this stage.

I presume that the final paragraph should read "to modernise the current T2" or similar.

 

[LS@MAN]

Latest response I have just received to an enquiry with regards to T2X opening/works:

We are preparing the T2 extension for opening and will make the decision asap, based on the final confirmed flying programmes of the airlines and how that will build into summer. Obviously, some of it depends on the ability to conduct trials and the fit our schedules of retailers etc..

We will then move onto the work to modernise the T2 extension. As you can imagine, it is hard to communicate precise timescales for all of this at this stage.

I presume that the final paragraph should read "to modernise the current T2" or similar.

Thanks for the info @Scottie Dog.
Yes, I imagine the last line also means the current T2...so if they start this next summer, maybe a 2023 opening to an extended T2 and then possible closure of T1...but there are so many rumours out there at the moment, it's anyone's guess in what order it will all happen.

It would be nice to eventually also have a timeline of which airlines are transferring over to T2X and when...I'm sure that will appear in due course.

I can only assume the remainder of Pier 2 will be delayed until beyond 2021.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Courtesy of SPD travels on Twitter

The new San Carlos restaurant in T2 at Manchester Airport looks like it could be nice. Picture via TRG concessions on LinkedIn.




The duty free crystal maze at Manchester Terminal 2 has been fitted out. This is from the ‘neon zone’ and to the left is the ‘Aztec zone’. The big dome to try and win the gold tickets is upstairs. Good luck and I hope you win some crystals!
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[cockyp]

Thanks Scottie

 

[JamieT]

Hi everyone, long time observer but this time with a post! I've been sent the below images from a tour of air side recently, looks like the fit out is progressing well with retails on final fit out. Not much in the way of seating in these photos which is the only thing that concerns me a little about the new air side experience; then again no one takes photo's of seats for fun do they? The centrepiece is certainly impressive.

 

[Aviador]

Welcome to Forums4airpoirts @JamieT and thank you for sharing the pictures with us. It's really starting to take shape inside now.

 

[Aviador]

The seating by the escalators looks the same as that used at Stansted. I like it though, it looks good.

 

[Scottie Dog]

As Aviador has already said, welcome to F4A and thank you for your post and the photos.

Since lockdown we have been short of details of what has been going on behind the scenes and your update is therefore very much appreciated.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Posted by #Henners on the Airport thread of SSC

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Since these images are in the public now, I will post the following in advance of tomorrow's MACC meeting - taken from the managing director's address (Please do not post this on any other forums)

Delivery - Despite the current national lockdown, all delivery works are continuing to the scheduled
programme, including ‘go-live’ works, commissioning and retail fit outs.
Retail fit out is progressing well with the completed retail units include: Wagamama, San Carlo,
Archies, Bridgewater Exchange, JD Sports, World Duty Free main store, Beauty store and
Collections store, Pret, Accessorize, WHSmith, Dixons and Costa. The remaining retail units and the
Escape Lounge are continuing with their fit outs and progressing well.
Go live works include sealing the original Terminal 2 areas which will no longer be operational when
the terminal extension opens (e.g. former security hall, departure lounge).
Trials and Familiarisation - Although Covid-19 and the national lockdown has slowed down trials
activity, to date we have trialled and tested the following major areas and processes: Fire and
evacuation, security, forecourt, baggage system, bussing lounge and immigration. This has enabled
us to rigorously test these major areas and a robust issues resolution process is followed throughout
the trials programme to make any adjustments where required.
Familiarisation of the terminal 2 extension is ongoing. ‘Familiarisation Guides’ have been produced
for each key area of the new facilities, including maps and information about the staff journey. In
addition, a video tour has been filmed and will be circulated to all colleagues who will be working in
the T2 extension. Finally, familiarisation tours are ongoing, following all Covid safe working
principles.
Opening - Throughout the pandemic, our approach has been to align our operational facilities with
demand – including when to bring the facilities delivered through MAN-TP into use.
As a result of the lockdown and ban on all but essential travel, our current view is that we won’t open
the T2 extension any earlier than the first week of March. We will continue to monitor airline
schedules and passenger demand and update more specifically on opening dates when we have
further clarity.

 

[Scottie Dog]

The following notes were made during this morning's presentation by Karen Smart (Manchester Airport Managing Director) to the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee.

Just a quick update on some points that might be of interest to the group.

• Karen confirmed that both TUI and Jet2 are not planning to restart operations before the end of March.
• Only flights operating are the ME3, some UK domestics
• T2 is now unlikely now to open before Easter and the airport will need 4 weeks to "bring it to live operational status"
• Q2 (April-June) is now unlikely to see figures much above 50% of 2019 and it will be only struggling to get above the 50% from July onwards.
• Karen was cagey about a new trans-Atlantic carrier as she wasn't certain whether the details were in the public domain!!
• New T2 images will be available shortly and I have asked that I be provided with copies of them.
• A committee member asked as to whether, with such a low footfall, the airport might take the opportunity to replace travellators and fix leaks in the immigration hall. The answer to the first was that with the losses that the airport is making at the present time it is not a top priority. The water leaks are being investigated but are proving hard to trace.

 

[Kraken]

Many thanks for the informative updates on T2X. I look forward to it opening, whenever that may be.

With regards to "Karen was cagey about a new trans-Atlantic carrier"... she clearly does not keep abreast of industry related websites / forums etc! It's been in the public domain for at least two weeks.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Indeed it has been known for some time, but with no schedules in a GDS.

 

[Land23R]

As far as I know the airline concerned are still awaiting approval from the DoT in the States. With the change in Administration in Washington, I suspect it might be a while forthcoming. In any case, if borders are closed there, services would be unlikely to start in the foreseeble and that's quite apart from whatever stringent measures the Uk has in place.

 

[Scottie Dog]

As I've hinted on the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee thread I have some new photos to share of the interior of the extension - courtesy of Manchester Airport. These will appear on here later today.

I'm afraid that I've been asked to take down the latest MANTP photos as they were released to me in error.

Hopefully by doing this I will be included in future distribution lists.

 

[Manchester Exile]

It looks like Manchester now has facilities to be proud of, for the first time in decades!

 

[marni1971]

Still sadly missing the skylights. And still a forced route through duty free although this time you get to go upstairs and then downstairs for the privilege of getting to the gate.