Manchester Airport Transformation Programme

[marni1971]

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

About time !

Notice also Pier C is officially designated Terminal 2. What a mess.

 

[Trumpington]

Happy spotting for 2026 everyone! See you on the live streams!

 

[Trumpington]

2026 plans and predictions:

1. Completion T3 makeover and expansion
2. Demolition of cargo sheds and new remote stands
3. Removal T3 and Pier B airbridges and some stand reconfiguration
4. Refurb Pier B poss integration to T3?
5. Continue Pier C refurbishment, clean airbridges!?
6. Announcement of Pier 3 construction date if ever!?
7. Demolition of old T1 multistorey and other disused structures?
8. Improvements to road and rail links, drop off zones!!

Any thoughts, additions or deletions?

 

[marni1971]

2026 plans and predictions:

1. Completion T3 makeover and expansion
2. Demolition of cargo sheds and new remote stands
3. Removal T3 and Pier B airbridges and some stand reconfiguration
4. Refurb Pier B poss integration to T3?
5. Continue Pier C refurbishment, clean airbridges!?
6. Announcement of Pier 3 construction date if ever!?
7. Demolition of old T1 multistorey and other disused structures?
8. Improvements to road and rail links, drop off zones!!

Any thoughts, additions or deletions?

Pier B has been “refurbished” already.

T1 MSCP isn’t going anywhere until the space is needed.

 

[CCGE29]

Firstly, I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2026. Let’s see what positive changes can come about this year!

Few updates

The latest temporary domestic arrivals route has now opened. This will be in place until the final domestic route opens in the spring (will see domestic arrivals enter via the VCC adjacent to stand 308).

Aspire are opening a new lounge in S26 next to escape (the space once earmarked for the VS lounge), the old aspire lounge will become invite only. EK lounge also to open in late spring.

Out on the apron, the works will complete in April on the stand 16/17 reconfiguration to allow both stands to take max 321 aircraft. As part of these works, Stand 5 has also been upgraded to max 7M8 (previously was max 319). Stand 47 is getting a complete reconstruction - works also to complete in Spring. Stand 57 is planned to become a contact stand for S26 (though this has been planned and keeps getting put off for the last few years now). Taxiway Lima is due to reopen after concrete bay replacements albeit on a slightly different alignment.

Going forwards, stand 12 is planned to become reconfigured to allow a third code C aircraft to park there. The next big investment on the airfield is the full reconstruction of taxiway Juliet, between J3 & J4. Will hear more about that in the coming weeks.

Also in the spring is the much touted re-opening of T1’s C-Pier as a satellite of T2. Works are currently ongoing internally within the pier to refresh it before trials begin in late Feb.

Few more airline announcements expected in the coming weeks.

CCGE29

Pier B has been “refurbished” already.

T1 MSCP isn’t going anywhere until the space is needed.

Pier B is now back in use via the southern front for departures using the lower level Gate 34 area. This allows T3 departures to use stands 1/2/4/5. The rest of Pier B remains mothballed.

As above, T1 multi story remains for now.

CCGE29.

 

[SteveyT63]

I recently stayed at the Radisson hotel and got a few pics of the new Domestic arrivals route it goes via a new road from stand 302. don't think it was the best idea. the bus drivers have to be really careful getting around the tight corner.. Also saw they've flattened the north side security entrance. does anyone know why that is? I've included a pic of that as well

 

[garethjkennedy]

So the permanent domestic arrivals will be busses forever, what a joke and a big service level reduction .... you would have thought they'd have come up with a better plan ...

 

[HX3]

Since when has plywood been an acceptable outdoor wall effect? Talk about value engineering

 

[MannyJon]

North gate being rebuilt with new security equipment. That route is easily accessible for a bus.

 

[KARFA]

So the permanent domestic arrivals will be busses forever, what a joke and a big service level reduction .... you would have thought they'd have come up with a better plan ...

yes it will be, and yes it is. the "better plan" was the unique biometrics on arrival and mixing with international arrivals (something no other UK airport does) but that has it's own issues as well, and BA didn't want to do it.

#bringbackT3

 

[joshl257]

Will never get my head around why the previous VS CEO scrapped the Manchester Clubhouse. Anyone who has used the Heathrow Clubhouse and Upper Class wing knows what a nice experiences it is. I hope MAG continue to invest in both terminals got a feeling T2 will be very busy this spring / summer.

Especially given the growth the airport over the past 5 years. I think Asia is a big market flights to Bangkok will only add to that. I have not had the misfortune of using the new domestic arrivals process yet. The simplest option would have been to isolate gate D1 and D2 build a corridor on arrivals level all the way to domestic arrivals. But agin some genius thought biometrics was the answer. Even Loganair has started parking near T3 to reduce taxi and turn around times.

 

[TheAviator]

yes it will be, and yes it is. the "better plan" was the unique biometrics on arrival and mixing with international arrivals (something no other UK airport does) but that has it's own issues as well, and BA didn't want to do it.

#bringbackT3

Moving back (particularly domestic-focused) airlines to the combined T1-T3 does seem the obvious solution to a number of the challenges presenting themselves at the moment. Other than “saving face”, is there any real reason for resisting this?

The more I think of it, the more I wonder whether refurbishing the portions of T1 that have been left in use could be the best way to maintain closer to the required capacity cost-effectively in the mid to long term? The connection through to T3 departures seems more efficient / quicker than expected. Rolling the prior T3 check in area to departures seems already to be on the cards and could accommodate for a larger duty free which allows the T1 duty free to close with an even quicker connection from T1 to T3. T1 security A has already been refurbished to accommodate the new scanners and is looking in a reasonable state. That really just leaves the T1 check in area…couldn’t this be refurbished relatively cheaply? Keeping check in / security at T1 facilities would also allow for much more convenient access to a rebuilt pier B much further into the future.

Rumours of car park conversions at T3 suggest the above is not under consideration but I wonder why not?

 

[MKY661]

2026 plans and predictions:

7. Demolition of old T1 multistorey and other disused structures?

Any thoughts, additions or deletions?

I don't think T1 multi storey can be demolished until T1 check-in is completely closed, since the check-in area is built into the car park.

Firstly, I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2026. Let’s see what positive changes can come about this year!

Few updates

The latest temporary domestic arrivals route has now opened. This will be in place until the final domestic route opens in the spring (will see domestic arrivals enter via the VCC adjacent to stand 308).

Aspire are opening a new lounge in S26 next to escape (the space once earmarked for the VS lounge), the old aspire lounge will become invite only. EK lounge also to open in late spring.

Out on the apron, the works will complete in April on the stand 16/17 reconfiguration to allow both stands to take max 321 aircraft. As part of these works, Stand 5 has also been upgraded to max 7M8 (previously was max 319). Stand 47 is getting a complete reconstruction - works also to complete in Spring. Stand 57 is planned to become a contact stand for S26 (though this has been planned and keeps getting put off for the last few years now). Taxiway Lima is due to reopen after concrete bay replacements albeit on a slightly different alignment.

Going forwards, stand 12 is planned to become reconfigured to allow a third code C aircraft to park there. The next big investment on the airfield is the full reconstruction of taxiway Juliet, between J3 & J4. Will hear more about that in the coming weeks.

Also in the spring is the much touted re-opening of T1’s C-Pier as a satellite of T2. Works are currently ongoing internally within the pier to refresh it before trials begin in late Feb.

Few more airline announcements expected in the coming weeks.

CCGE29

Pier B is now back in use via the southern front for departures using the lower level Gate 34 area. This allows T3 departures to use stands 1/2/4/5. The rest of Pier B remains mothballed.

As above, T1 multi story remains for now.

CCGE29.

Thank you for your informative updates as always!

 

[DylanM]

I used the new temporary domestic arrivals route last week, didn’t get any pictures because I didn’t realise it had changed since the first temporary route which seemed to only exist for 2 months. It’s pretty much as pictured above, stupidly long taxi to A1-A11 gates then 15 minutes on the bus to this place round the back of T2. The only improvement on the first temporary route is that it chucks you out into the arrivals hall instead of the old temporary route, which felt as if one was being released from prison through that barbed wire gate on the west end of T2. It’s such a shambles, why on earth they couldn’t just stay at T3 with the short taxi time and the walking route I have no idea. Would serve Loganair Aurigny and Aer Lingus well too if the T3 refurbishment brought back the domestic terminal side but of course that won’t happen.

 

[HX3]

Came through security(west?) today into the old part of the terminal with the glazed roof still awaiting final shops. The roof of the duty whilst still letting light through just doesn’t work in my opinion. It’s such a shame they haven’t left the area fully open and just have suspended lighting with less of the mess. The terminal was also very busy and I wonder how it will cope in summer. Drop off was all the way back to the motorway. On the plus side security and check in was super quick. We left from d8, which is next to a really jarring staggered piece of new frontage just to the right of the Manchester sign- does anyone know if that is the finished product- if so it it is really bad for an award winning terminal.

 

[Trumpington]

Came through security(west?) today into the old part of the terminal with the glazed roof still awaiting final shops. The roof of the duty whilst still letting light through just doesn’t work in my opinion. It’s such a shame they haven’t left the area fully open and just have suspended lighting with less of the mess. The terminal was also very busy and I wonder how it will cope in summer. Drop off was all the way back to the motorway. On the plus side security and check in was super quick. We left from d8, which is next to a really jarring staggered piece of new frontage just to the right of the Manchester sign- does anyone know if that is the finished product- if so it it is really bad for an award winning terminal.

I used the new temporary domestic arrivals route last week, didn’t get any pictures because I didn’t realise it had changed since the first temporary route which seemed to only exist for 2 months. It’s pretty much as pictured above, stupidly long taxi to A1-A11 gates then 15 minutes on the bus to this place round the back of T2. The only improvement on the first temporary route is that it chucks you out into the arrivals hall instead of the old temporary route, which felt as if one was being released from prison through that barbed wire gate on the west end of T2. It’s such a shambles, why on earth they couldn’t just stay at T3 with the short taxi time and the walking route I have no idea. Would serve Loganair Aurigny and Aer Lingus well too if the T3 refurbishment brought back the domestic terminal side but of course that won’t happen.

Proof in pudding will come in summer time, once everything ramps up. Who knows maybe some domestic airlines insist on moving back to T3 to save on taxing and busing. Unless at a contact stand, seems a retrograde passenger experience. Surely management will be acutely aware and will want to smooth out!?

 

[marni1971]

does anyone know if that is the finished product

That is the finished product.

 

[HX3]

That it really bad then @marni1971 it just looks totally unfinished. I know airports are to be used and be functional, but it’s like rendering your house and leaving a zigzag section undone, like there is no pride in how it looks.

 

[Sean Fish]

Also in the spring is the much touted re-opening of T1’s C-Pier as a satellite of T2. Works are currently ongoing internally within the pier to refresh it before trials begin in late Feb.

Thank you very much for the updates! Any hint on how the Pier C satellite will be operated?

 

[joshl257]

Took family members to the Virgin Twilight check-in last night no problems would highly recommend.
Only flaw is the terminal 2 short stay multi-storey west. Took over 30 minutes to get out due to the amount of people coming down the ramps from floors 5 and 6 we was on floor 3. I think the airport should build a second car park where the current construction site office is. As having the current west car park set up just doesn't work with the combined pick up and short stay.