Manchester Airport has confirmed that its popular Runway Visitor Park will still allow aviation enthusiasts to watch planes take-off and land once a new private terminal opens on the site later this year.
However a car park that currently has runway views will lose some visibility, while two raised viewing mounds will be removed.
The park offers tours of aircraft including Concorde G-BOAC and a Nimrod, and also has an education centre and three mounds where visitors can plane-spot (marked by binoculars, below).
Business Traveller asked the airport to clarify how the Premiair terminal would impact the park after several readers expressed concerns about accessibility and the view.
The terminal will be located on the patch of grass labelled 6 on the image.
Business Traveller commenters had told us they could currently “just about see through the diggers” but it looked like the view from some spaces would be blocked by the terminal.
One said they had been charged £10 admission even though they “could not see anything,” while another said it was a shame the terminal may “spoil it for the enthusiastic runway visitors.”
A spokesperson from Manchester Airport said that while the construction works were currently disrupting the view, this would be minimised once the terminal opens.
In a statement, they said: “The Runway Visitor Park building will remain exactly the same for visitors looking to watch aircraft take off and land, and there are no plans to close this facility.
“However, of course with such a large construction project there will be some changes to viewing facilities.
“The viewing mounds at the visitor park will be altered slightly. We have had to remove the two taller circular mounds for Premiair construction works, but the existing large rectangular mound will be extended by 80 sqm for everyone’s use and will be fully accessible for those with reduced mobility.
“We’ve had to keep this mound the same height as it currently is for aviation security reasons, but the extended mound will still give visitors a great opportunity to watch aircraft arriving and departing from around the world.
“Visitors to the runway park have long been a valued community at our airport, and this will continue for many years to come.”
They added that a fence currently next to the viewing mound will be altered to improve the view.
Bookings for Premiair opened today for dates starting from November 11, with packages starting at £50 per person.
Manchester Airport is currently spending £1 billion on a “transformation programme” that will expand its second terminal by 150 per cent. It has already opened a new pier with 11 gates and a 3,800-space car park.
