Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

[LS@MAN]

Totally different air bridges and different pier...definitely possible. Sure the bridge can be programmed to operate out of limits to rectify the issue if indeed there's any truth to this...

I stand corrected, sounds fairly logical, but hopefully any issues can be sorted soon!

 

[mullion]

It is why things are tested

 

[CCGE29]

Indeed as above, the upper airbridge autolevel did not work as intended on the trial flight. The jet bridges on the new T2 are made by Adelte, the existing bridges on stand 12 are JetWay (Oshkosh). Bridge is expected to be serviceable in time for the first EK flight on the 18th.

All gates on Pier 2 are now open and in use.

CCGE29

 

[MKY661]

Worth noting this could change but It appears the last ever T1 arrival will be EZY2252 from Hurghada to Manchester the early hours of 19th November. Aircraft will likely arrive at T2 with pax bussed to T1.

 

[BlueManc]

Just done a pick up from this mornings CX219. At 0730 there were tailbacks on the slip road off M56 to the T2 roundabout. Most traffic attempting to do drop offs. I went down to P3 multistorey. They will need to have a look at this. I dread to think what the EasyJet drop-offs combined with with long haul pickups will do that congestion point. I'm thinking of approaching from Chicago Ave* next time.

* needs renaming to a destination that serves MAN well. Dubai Ave.

 

[LS@MAN]

Just done a pick up from this mornings CX219. At 0730 there were tailbacks on the slip road off M56 to the T2 roundabout. Most traffic attempting to do drop offs. I went down to P3 multistorey. They will need to have a look at this. I dread to think what the EasyJet drop-offs combined with with long haul pickups will do that congestion point. I'm thinking of approaching from Chicago Ave* next time.

* needs renaming to a destination that serves MAN well. Dubai Ave.

Yes, I’ve heard stories of this happening more regularly now and unfortunately sounds like it will only get worse! The drop off /pick up charges obviously don’t put people off driving, but we do need better public transportation to and from the airport to decrease the number of drop off’s/pick up’s.

 

[Land23R]

Just done a pick up from this mornings CX219. At 0730 there were tailbacks on the slip road off M56 to the T2 roundabout. Most traffic attempting to do drop offs. I went down to P3 multistorey. They will need to have a look at this. I dread to think what the EasyJet drop-offs combined with with long haul pickups will do that congestion point. I'm thinking of approaching from Chicago Ave* next time.

* needs renaming to a destination that serves MAN well. Dubai Ave.

Just done a pick up from this mornings CX219. At 0730 there were tailbacks on the slip road off M56 to the T2 roundabout. Most traffic attempting to do drop offs. I went down to P3 multistorey. They will need to have a look at this. I dread to think what the EasyJet drop-offs combined with with long haul pickups will do that congestion point. I'm thinking of approaching from Chicago Ave* next time.

* needs renaming to a destination that serves MAN well. Dubai Ave.

I think the peak morning time for EasyJet drop-offs is more likely to be between 03.30 and 05.30 or possibly 06.00 for the early departure wave - before most of the early long haul arrivals.
However, this is winter; next summer could be a bigger problem when Jet2 have a much heavier schedule of flights.

 

[marni1971]

Yes, I’ve heard stories of this happening more regularly now and unfortunately sounds like it will only get worse! The drop off /pick up charges obviously don’t put people off driving, but we do need better public transportation to and from the airport to decrease the number of drop off’s/pick up’s.

The airport needs to rethink its traffic plans; they dropped the direct drop off ramp to expanded drop off on the legacy car park roof, have a band aid split floor solution that isn’t working, miscalculated the traffic at the west end of the complex and ripped out a new roundabout to install exit barriers. And the new T2 west pick up layout is a shambles. It’s clear it can’t and won’t cope.

The majority - if they live close enough - wouldn’t think of using our public transport with suitcases. Indeed on opening day of the APL we were told by Metrolink they don’t recommend using a tram to catch a flight incase you miss it.

 

[mannyflyer]

How well utilised is the new ground floor level drop off?

 

[CCGE29]

Been a while since we had an update so here goes…

North Gate access closed in late October to be re-built with the new scanners - scheduled completion in August 26.

Stand 16-18 to close on the 20th for re-configuration works. Works scheduled for completion early April 26. Once completed, stand 18 is permanently removed and 16/17 become A321/7M8 capable. The long abandoned airbridge on 18 was removed last week.

Stand 47 also due to close for works this week - stand to have new concrete poured (the tarmac was a temporary fix to get through the summer). Once completed (scheduled late March 26) the stand will also be fitted with AVDGS.

Spotting Chance, the bar in the old BA lounge area is due for opening in March 26. Fit-out is well underway.

Airside in T1, pier C is seeing renovations - gates 22/24/26/27 have now received the fresh look - neon blue lighting similar to the skylink has been added at these gates along with new doors and gate podiums. The signage is due to be refreshed to the white on black to match the rest of T2. A pop up WH Smith will open at the old gate 21 area - matching the T2 piers.

Across in departures, retailers Boots, FatFace, Timberland & Giraffe have all now vacated their units. The rest beyond duty free will close over the next couple of days. Retailers prior to T1 duty free will remain.

T1 arrivals and associated retailers close on the 18th. As has been mentioned elsewhere Spar is also going however is planned to be replaced in T3 arrivals with a similar convenience store.

T2 new domestic arrivals route is progressing well and nearing completion. Domestic arrivals will see passengers bussed to the new VCC adjacent to stand 308 and go through a seperate channel through to baggage reclaim where passengers will exit into the eastern end of Terminal 2.

Oh… and the most important news - Greggs in T2 opens on the 10th December!

CCGE29

 

[LS@MAN]

Been a while since we had an update so here goes…

North Gate access closed in late October to be re-built with the new scanners - scheduled completion in August 26.

Stand 16-18 to close on the 20th for re-configuration works. Works scheduled for completion early April 26. Once completed, stand 18 is permanently removed and 16/17 become A321/7M8 capable. The long abandoned airbridge on 18 was removed last week.

Stand 47 also due to close for works this week - stand to have new concrete poured (the tarmac was a temporary fix to get through the summer). Once completed (scheduled late March 26) the stand will also be fitted with AVDGS.

Spotting Chance, the bar in the old BA lounge area is due for opening in March 26. Fit-out is well underway.

Airside in T1, pier C is seeing renovations - gates 22/24/26/27 have now received the fresh look - neon blue lighting similar to the skylink has been added at these gates along with new doors and gate podiums. The signage is due to be refreshed to the white on black to match the rest of T2. A pop up WH Smith will open at the old gate 21 area - matching the T2 piers.

Across in departures, retailers Boots, FatFace, Timberland & Giraffe have all now vacated their units. The rest beyond duty free will close over the next couple of days. Retailers prior to T1 duty free will remain.

T1 arrivals and associated retailers close on the 18th. As has been mentioned elsewhere Spar is also going however is planned to be replaced in T3 arrivals with a similar convenience store.

T2 new domestic arrivals route is progressing well and nearing completion. Domestic arrivals will see passengers bussed to the new VCC adjacent to stand 308 and go through a seperate channel through to baggage reclaim where passengers will exit into the eastern end of Terminal 2.

Oh… and the most important news - Greggs in T2 opens on the 10th December!

CCGE29

Hi and thanks a lot for the detailed update, it's most welcome to read

So my understanding is that once Easyjet transfer over to T2, some of the stands on the east facing side of Pier B will be used by Ryanair via a bussing operation?

On the subject of T3, it's no secret it's in need of expansion, during the summer months it's horrendous within the departure areas...are there plans to expand into the old check in and security areas too?

Are we expecting Pier C to be used during the early morning wave and late night arrivals or during the day too? The way Pier C is set up due to it's age of same level arrivals / departures, it's a shame that only departures could be used in the future which would allow the glass partitions to be removed and therefore more space and most importantly removes the need to go down and up stairs to access gates 22/24/26.
Concerning stands 29 & 31, have the reconfigurations now been done? I know the NOTAM for the follow-me along the current unpublished dual taxiway system along that area finishes on 27th Nov.

The new T2 domestic route can't come quicker enough by the sounds of it, especially with easyJet coming to T2 with their domestic flights. The CTA arrivals with the biometrics is still seeing teething issues, hopefully that will be sorted soon too!

And, great news about Greggs

 

[Trumpington]

Is there any news about how passengers will 'access' Pier C from T2? Bussing or airbridges?

 

[MKY661]

Is there any news about how passengers will 'access' Pier C from T2? Bussing or airbridges?

Given that the post above mentions a WH Smith opening by Gate 21, I'm assuming that passengers will physically enter the building.

I also wonder if they'll become E Gates at some point with the new signage?

 

[joshl257]

Maybe they will enter at gate 20 bus gate.

 

[Tho]

In some ways, I kind of hope they reconsider the current segregation setup in Pier C once T1 closes. I know it wouldn’t match the overall style of T2, but a lot of airports abroad use a system where arriving passengers pass through part of the departures area before heading to arrivals, and it works fine.





The glass barriers along the sides of the pier are pretty frustrating and really get in the way of plane-spotting. Removing them would make the space feel more open and improve the overall experience.

 

[Sean Fish]

I’m on EZY707, the second last flight to use the T1 via its own departure lounge (let’s be precise).
Just now the captain announced we are “the last EasyJet flight to depart from Manchester T1” despite there being another Amsterdam flight after us! (edit: I just checked and the Amsterdam flight is an EZU. This could be why)
and ironically this is the only tribute I realised throughout today’s journey. The airport itself seems not keen on mentioning the closure of the terminal. (I was expecting at least a stall or something)

The shops in T1 certainly look like in full preparation for the terminal closure. Some have already closed by the time I arrive (including everything in T1 arrival except WHS), and those still open have certainly been getting rid of their stock over the days.

Edit2: Security B is ‘temporarily closed’ when I arrived. Will the passenger number from Ryanair only justify two securities? I won’t be surprised if Security B isn’t opening again.

 

[MKY661]

Most EasyJet arrivals seem to be arriving at T1 stands as normal tonight with a few exceptions. G-EZUZ has arrived on stand 111 and some others are down as Gate 20.

I’m also surprised that no info on the closure of T1 tonight has been mentioned. It’s also worth noting that Ryanair departures are still showing T1 as of tomorrow, though they were originally showing T3, so I’m assuming while T1 does close tonight, the renaming of the building to T3 may take a bit of time.

View attachment 33075

Edit2: Security B is ‘temporarily closed’ when I arrived. Will the passenger number from Ryanair only justify two securities? I won’t be surprised if Security B isn’t opening again.

It’s had the new scanners installed so I would imagine it’ll still be used, possibly during peak times maybe.

 

[LS@MAN]

Be interesting to see how many departures there will be via Pier C stands/gates.
Also the east facing stands on pier B are meant to have Ryanair aircraft parked up overnight, unsure though if this is a bussing operation for passengers or if the aircraft’s will be towed over to a T3 stand?

 

[ian_h]

Maybe they will enter at gate 20 bus gate.

I suspect thats the idea, the current plan seems to be:

old T1 Pier C will be partitioned from the "old t1" and used as a satellite pier for T2 with passengers bussed to it but some facilities inside WC, WH Smiths etc and a mini refresh / refurb to reflect the other piers at T2 (signage, etc)

Think of how the piers at Stansted work, once you are bussed (or at stn use the stn transit) you're waiting in the pier for your flight with no walking route back to the main terminal.

 

[LS@MAN]

Having a look at the airport’s website for T2 departures, EasyJet are using a mixture of stands this morning, D1, A1, A5 as some examples. I also notice for gates inside the new pier (C gates) on both the airport’s website and FR24 these gates are not shown. The website just says “go to gate”, whilst for other gates in both T2 & T3 the gate assignment is shown.