Member Article

Manchester Airport invests in £1bn expansion plan

Manchester Airport’s owners have revealed a 10-year investment plan that will see £1bn spent on doubling the size of Terminal Two and link it to Terminal Three.

The plan will also see Terminal One phased out by 2022 and work could begin as early as April 2016.

Manchester Airport Group estimates that 55m passengers will use the airport every year by 2050, more than double the current number.

The airport has been increasing its long haul flights with partners and the investment comes after announcement that HS2 will go ahead to continue with the government’s Northern Powerhouse plan.

Chief executive of M.A.G, Charlie Cornish, said: “Today, we’re setting out how the airport will contribute to the development of a Northern Powerhouse and demonstrating the dynamic, can-do spirit that sums up the region.

“The Transformation Programme will ensure Manchester Airport plays its full part in driving economic growth and develops as a key part of the UK transport infrastructure, within a nationwide network of competing airports.

“We continue to work closely with our airline partners to ensure that their requirements and those of their passengers will be fully catered for, both during the programme design and build and upon its completion.

“Over the next 10 years, the airport will continue to develop as a global gateway for the UK, directly to and from the North, and these enhancements will enable us to further adapt, modernise and transform the customer service experience we are able to offer.”

Leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese, said: “Manchester Airport plays a vital economic role in the region in which it serves.

“Its annual passenger numbers last year topped a record 22 million and it provides jobs for 20,000 people on site and a further 25,000 indirectly.

“Greater Manchester and the rest of the North West is increasingly competing on an international stage and an airport that is better suited to serving these global aspirations will significantly improve the impact the region can have in attracting inward and outward investment, helping it to realise its full economic potential and create further jobs and opportunities.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .