Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

[Trumpington]

Yes, snow fleet indeed.
Unsure where they will be relocated once the new taxiway echo opens though…

Well...it's almost mid December, be interesting to see if the remainder of the TP (excluding Wetherspoons) will be complete and open before the end of the year. So we have:
* The remaining legacy T2 departure area.
* Domestic arrivals baggage hall and arrivals area (which is the T2 legacy arrivals area).
* Domestic arrivals new route from the VCC to the baggage hall.
* Dual taxiway system (Echo and Delta)…although this will be a partial completion. Available until taxiway November Bravo and then further towards Pier 1 later.
* Improvements to the drop off area at departure level - maybe relocate M&G and expand the drop off zone, also the slip road up to this level needs to be two lanes.

Thanks as always to the ever helpful @CCGE29, here is some info on the on-going works on the airfield:
There is WIP until late Jan 2026 on taxiway Lima and stands 6, 8 & 10 which, until complete, means the new section of taxiway Echo cannot open (between the STS hanger and Pier B).
Stands 309 & 310 are set to become operational by next summer (airbridge's already removed from these stands, but unsure if passengers can walk straight into the VCC or will be bussed?).
Stand 202 (where the current Jet2 building is) is a potential new stand in the future.

In T3...there is a new TP (although on a much smaller scale) with the new sports bar upstairs due to open in March 26. No real detailed info on what else we can expect in the expanded departure areas, but hopefully we won't be disappointed and improvements are also made to the arrivals areas too.
Stands 16 & 17 are currently being reconfigured to become 737M / A321 capable side by side (Code C). Stand 47 is closed for new concrete pouring and new pavement installation.
All these three stands are set to re-open by April 26.

Finally, hopefully the demolition of the cargo and freight sheds can begin early next year to make way for new remote stands (20 in total) and this would also mean the dual taxiway system can then reach it's full potential all the way to Pier 1 (taxiway Zulu).

Really informative and helpful thanks LS@MAN

 

[joshl257]

I have noticed over the past few days Jet 2 and Tui have been using the D gates for their 737's. The airport must be trying to maximise gate space in T2. Will be interesting to see how D9 and D10 get used once reactivated.

 

[BLB777]

Not sure if temporary or permanent but Loganair appears to be parking their aircraft at the old T1 B pier stands now rather than over at T2. My guess would be that it's Loganairs decision to help cut taxi times and improve OTP, interesting to see none the less. I wonder if Aurigny and Emerlad will follow suit

 

[LS@MAN]

Not sure if temporary or permanent but Loganair appears to be parking their aircraft at the old T1 B pier stands now rather than over at T2. My guess would be that it's Loganairs decision to help cut taxi times and improve OTP, interesting to see none the less. I wonder if Aurigny and Emerlad will follow suit

Noticed the same thing today! And the aircraft I looked at seemed to be departing on schedule so I would hazard a guess as yes, the airline have made their feelings clear and know and management have had to offer these stands.
If this improves their OTP then long may it continue.

 

[Haz]

The new route from security east through the new duty free shop and boutique mall has opened. I went through today and was surprised to see it open. Duty free is similar in design and layout to the existing west shop. The boutique mall isn’t finished yet, but nice to see the glass atrium once again. None of the units are finished yet, but the fevertree bar looks almost complete. Overall quite a pleasant experience, spacious and a nice contrast to the western end with the natural light from the atrium.

I am surprised there hasn’t been any fanfare but expect there will be some social media soon from the airport.

 

[mannyflyer]

Just noticed in the recently reopened area outside Joe and the Juice, there's signage directed to 'lounges' with a blank white space for a name, this is pointing in direction of the VCC/D Gates or towards the Wetherspoons. Does anyone know if there is space reserved for a lounge in this area?

 

[ian_h]

Just noticed in the recently reopened area outside Joe and the Juice, there's signage directed to 'lounges' with a blank white space for a name, this is pointing in direction of the VCC/D Gates or towards the Wetherspoons. Does anyone know if there is space reserved for a lounge in this area?

Presumably the new Aspire to replace the one that was in Legacy T2

 

[LS@MAN]

Looking at FR24 this morning I saw an easyJet on stand 2 to Istanbul and a Jet2 to Rhodes also on Pier B to Rhodes. So looks like bussing to pier B as started from T2.
Closure of taxiway Lima hasn’t helped so there are many holdings during the peak periods to get to and from T2.

 

[Trumpington]

Thanks for all contributions and updates this year. Keeps me...an A1 Av geek most enthusiastic! Ps recommend 2 x books Jet Man and RB211- both in RVP shop!

 

[LS@MAN]

Thanks for all contributions and updates this year. Keeps me...an A1 Av geek most enthusiastic! Ps recommend 2 x books Jet Man and RB211- both in RVP shop!

You’re welcome and thanks for your contributions too.
I wish you a nice Christmas period and all the best for 2026

 

[MannyJon]

It's looks as though the traffic situation has not been thought through very well. Cars everywhere again this morning as I cycled in. People giving up and walking the last 400 meters with cases. Drivers getting irate, buses everywhere.
Daily occurance and I dread to think what it will be like when it gets busy.

Getting worse. Staff getting fed up now. MAGs Answer to them, leave earlier. I cycle and I'm having to leave a bit earlier to dodge traffic. I often have to get off and push due to reckless drivers. I have colleagues who live an hour away and they suggest to them to leave earlier.

 

[marni1971]

Getting worse. Staff getting fed up now. MAGs Answer to them, leave earlier. I cycle and I'm having to leave a bit earlier to dodge traffic. I often have to get off and push due to reckless drivers. I have colleagues who live an hour away and they suggest to them to leave earlier.

11am on a Sunday and the queue starts on the M56 slip road bend. Management have their heads in the sand.

 

[LS@MAN]

11am on a Sunday and the queue starts on the M56 slip road bend. Management have their heads in the sand.

Is this traffic coming from westbound or eastbound?
There are 12 of us flying from MAN on Wednesday morning but from T3, aiming to arrive around 6am so I hope to god this traffic situation will not affect passengers like us arriving to access T3 and the car parks!

 

[marni1971]

Is this traffic coming from westbound or eastbound?
There are 12 of us flying from MAN on Wednesday morning but from T3, aiming to arrive around 6am so I hope to god this traffic situation will not affect passengers like us arriving to access T3 and the car parks!

Both. The queue is to get to the T2 access slip. In theory get into the right most lane as soon as you can. T1 (3) should in theory be easier to reach.

 

[Liverpoola380]

I flew from T2 today. It took us 20 minutes to get off the slipway from the motorway to the D&G in T2.

The situation is not ideal, when you come on to the rounabout at T2 there are wardens guiding people to the correct roads, drop off / parking. However it is an issue.

When I was checking in for my flight a gent arrived 55mins before his flight and the checkin staff were quizzing him to as why he was late, alas, it was the traffic.

Traffic aside, security was easy however the terminal was busy, not sure how todays traffic would compare to a typical summers day.

 

[marni1971]

the checkin staff were quizzing him to as why he was late

Good. The more complaints hopefully will lead to something being done.

 

[Haz]

I think fundamentally the drop off area (up the ramp) is far too small. Cars are backing up all the way to the motorway spur. The digital signs do direct cars to the lower drop off area (arrivals level) when the upper forecourt is full, however it seems no one follows these signs and prefer to queue for the upper forecourt. It doesn’t help that the escalators besides domestic arrivals haven’t been installed and therefore there are long queues for the lifts up to departures.

If you look at the original plans for T2, the entire top floor of the original multi story carpark was to be used as a drop off area with a new access ramp. It seems rather foolishly this has been abandoned (probably to save money) resulting in a totally inadequate amount of drop off spaces. Expect the traffic to only get worse in the summer.

 

[Trumpington]

Gulp! Does not sound good, car queues, long walks, bussing to stands. No wonder people prefer likes of LJLA- ticking all boxes just minus airbridges!

 

[MannyJon]

Be interesting to see drop off and pick up in February when no trains from picadilly for 2 weeks

 

[Trumpington]

Final section Echo taxiway due to opening soon:

https://nats-uk.ead-it.com/cms-nats/opencms/en/Publications/aip-supplements/EG_Sup_2026_002_en.pdf