Manchester airport has opened a new pier at its Terminal 2, as part of a £1 billion transformation programme.
The 216-metre long facility – which the airport points out is “longer than Manchester’s Beetham Tower is tall” – launched with TUI flights to Funchal and Naples, and will be used by all carriers operating out of T2.
The new pier is the latest phase of the airport’s decade-long transformation programme, which also saw a multi-storey car park open today. The new pier has 11 gates and airbridges, and over 1,400 seats for passengers.
An extension of T2 will see the terminal more than double in size by summer 2020, with further piers set to open in 2022 and 2024.
Commenting on the news Andrew Cowan, CEO of Manchester Airport, said:
“Today is a significant milestone for Manchester Airport as we deliver the first phase of the biggest investment we have made in our 80 year history.
“We are delighted to wave off the first handful of flights from the new pier, as we build up to bringing it into full operation in the days ahead.
“What that means is our customers can start to enjoy the new facilities, at the same time as getting a taste of what to expect from the next stages of our £1bn transformation programme.
“Today is just the start. Over the coming years we will transform the airport for all of our customers, giving the North the world class airport it deserves. The investment we are making and the range of destinations we connect to, in all corners of the world, underlines the vital role Manchester Airport plays in creating jobs and driving growth across the North of England.
“Having first put a spade in the ground in July 2017, a huge amount of work has gone into getting our new pier and multi-storey car park ready to open today and I would like to thank all of our colleagues and delivery partners for their efforts.”
