Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

[Scottie Dog]

Can I refer people to the latest post on the Manchester Airport Consultative Committee thread as https://forums4airports.com/threads/5158/page-5

This has answers to a number of @Trumpington's questions.

 

[MannyJon]

EasyJet are supposedly moving to T2 in the autumn of 2025.
Once Pier 2 opens, there will be 13 contacts stands. So out of the 10 to be lost due to the new dual taxiway, there will be 13 new stands on pier 2.

Can't be bothered scrolling back through all the pages.

Just a bit of boring info for anyone that doesn't know.
The new piers gates will see the return of the 300 gate numbers.

 

[Trumpington]

How on earth can Easyjet move to T2 and same with prop domestics...there will have to be a significant number of non contact stands on pier 2. Currently Pier B can have as many as 10 Easyjet aircraft on stand! I'd suggest keep Pier B for Easyjet and maybe Pier C for Jet 2!?

Also is there a set opening times for dual taxiway ops and an official completion date for T2?

 

[EGCC_MAN]

The dual-taxiways do not require additional rostered staff (ATC, Fire Service etc.) when open (in the way that the second runway does). So, once completed, the dual-taxiway system should be available for use 24/7 (barring routine closures for essential maintenance etc.).

EasyJet actually have 23 based aircraft plus others visiting from away bases. Continued use of stands on piers B and C appears essential. The question is whether passengers will be bussed to and from T2 to those stands, or whether they will continue to be serviced from new-layout T3, incorporating elements of closed T1. MAG has already confirmed that the plan is for EasyJet to remain in T1 for next Summer at least.

 

[LS@MAN]

How on earth can Easyjet move to T2 and same with prop domestics...there will have to be a significant number of non contact stands on pier 2. Currently Pier B can have as many as 10 Easyjet aircraft on stand! I'd suggest keep Pier B for Easyjet and maybe Pier C for Jet 2!?

Also is there a set opening times for dual taxiway ops and an official completion date for T2?

How on earth can Easyjet move to T2 and same with prop domestics...there will have to be a significant number of non contact stands on pier 2. Currently Pier B can have as many as 10 Easyjet aircraft on stand! I'd suggest keep Pier B for Easyjet and maybe Pier C for Jet 2!?

Also is there a set opening times for dual taxiway ops and an official completion date for T2?

Jet2 will transfer to T2 entirely after this summer and that move will be permanent as T1 will close. The majority of their flights now are based in T2 anyway they won’t be operating from T1 Pier C in the future.

I believe the dual taxiway will be used as remote parking for overnight. The usage of the dual taxiway is for peak periods and overnight the new taxiway will also be used for aircraft parking…this is only what I’ve heard, so please don’t shoot the messenger!

 

[EGCC_MAN]

I believe the dual taxiway will be used as remote parking for overnight. The usage of the dual taxiway is for peak periods and overnight the new taxiway will also be used for aircraft parking…this is only what I’ve heard, so please don’t shoot the messenger!

Hmmm ... Well that sounds interesting! Firstly, I have been concerned about stand capacity at MAN for a long time, so I am in no hurry at all to lose any overnight parking space. But presuming that the dual-taxiway provision is intended to ease ground traffic flows, I don't see how this really works in practice.

The number of aircraft on the ground peaks at around 05:00. Barring delays, the overnight short-haul holiday flights using based fleet have returned to MAN; the new day's departures have not yet begun in earnest. Maximum stand occupancy is evident. At around 05:30, things wake up. The first departures push back, but from 06:00 onwards a string of long-haul aircraft start arriving, most of which are headed to T2 (passing the Pier C bottleneck) for their turnarounds. Virgin (x2 or more), Aer Lingus UK (2), Hainan, Juneyao, TUI (x2 or more), Etihad, Qatar are often in the early bunch. Then beyond 07:00, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines and the first European short-hauls. Ethiopian around 08:00. Solid traffic. If those remote stands are not vacated by this point, the dual-taxiway system is rendered redundant.

Prior to 06:00, there will be few opportunities to push and tow remote parked aircraft from the West Apron, as few contact stands will have been vacated by then. Beyond 06:30, such manoeuvres will be in direct conflict with active traffic (rapidly reaching peak levels). And if the remote-parked aircraft are bussing stand departures, dual-taxiway only becomes useful once the last of them has departed. Just one delay ...

There is a conflict of interest here; a tough choice will have to be made. Maybe it already has been, as LS@MAN mentions. And I'm not saying it's the wrong choice. Given the need to offer either dual-taxiway ops or to provide sufficient apron parking for based fleet, I would strongly favour the latter. But we can't 'have our cake and eat it', as the saying goes. It's one or the other. That's one big investment in taxiway redevelopment if it cannot be used during the morning peak period.

What this does re-emphasise is the pressing need to construct additional apron parking stands ASAP. Somewhere on the campus ... yes, I know about the constraints and tough choices required! But this, for me, has become a higher priority than building another pier or the like. It is essential; top of the development agenda for me.

 

[Trumpington]

Definitely will retain Pier B. I hope Pier C is joined to T2. Definitely demolish old towers though!

 

[mullion]

Have heard that the old control tower may not be coming down anyway.

 

[marni1971]

Have heard that the old control tower may not be coming down anyway.

That would make sense given the financials

 

[HX3]

Can I clarify- the old control tower is not coming down, or is it a typo and should be now coming down. Thanks

 

[LS@MAN]

Definitely will retain Pier B. I hope Pier C is joined to T2. Definitely demolish old towers though!

Surely Pier B can’t be kept beyond summer 2025 as easyJet will transfer to T2 then!

Have heard that the old control tower may not be coming down anyway.

I don’t anticipate any demolition of the old unused buildings or T1 unfortunately. Which is typical of the UK, replace the old infrastructure with new but can’t afford or can’t be bothered to demolish the older buildings!
They are an eye sore in reality!

 

[Trumpington]

Save money, integrate Pier C to T2, saves building Pier 3!

 

[marni1971]

Save money, integrate Pier C to T2, saves building Pier 3!

That’d make the T1 check in for T3 seem like 50 yds !

 

[Rudney]

Save money, integrate Pier C to T2, saves building Pier 3!

Can almost definitely see this happening.

 

[LS@MAN]

Save money, integrate Pier C to T2, saves building Pier 3!

Yes indeed! Surely MAG have considered or are considering this proposal as we speak (hopefully anyway!).

If this does happen, I hope to god there is a refurb both inside and out of the pier and new airbridge’s. Pier C is functional as is but for the future, it desperately needs modernisation!

 

[Seasider]

It seems sensible to me also, but who says that the sensible idea is selected.

 

[TheAviator]

What is the logical sense in transitioning EasyJet to T2 given what others are reporting about the lack of stands meaning passengers will need frequently to be bussed between T2 and T1 B? Particularly given the new layout for combo T1/3, surely it makes more sense not to move EJ and allow passengers to flow out of present T1 duty free either through to present T3 departures or to pier B?

Perhaps pier B is so old and decrepit that continued maintenance of the interior is unaffordable so the intent is to orient aircraft around an increasingly dilapidating structure? That’ll be pleasant…

 

[SierraHotel]

Will there be 2 x T2 piers or 3?

 

[marni1971]

Will there be 2 x T2 piers or 3?

They can’t currently afford the 3rd pier.

Yes indeed! Surely MAG have considered or are considering this proposal as we speak (hopefully anyway!).

From legacy T2 to the satellite that’s a half mile walk. Pier C is pretty much at the end of its useful life.

 

[Trumpington]

Pier B will be rebuilt and integrated to T3. Pier C most likely retained and linked to T2. Pier 3 and 4 unlikely ever build, certainly not in next few years! Old T1 building likely to be become mothballed until demolition in 50 years time!!