MANCHESTER Airport will undergo a £1bn transformation over the next ten years in order to compete with London's bursting Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

It will play a key role in this one nation government’s plan to rebalance the UK economy

The UK's third largest airport - which last year topped a record 22 million passengers - plans to double the airports capacity to 45 million passengers over the next decade.

Last year both Heathrow (73.4m) and Gatwick (38m) also reported record passenger numbers. Each airport is currently pushing for an extra runway.

The Manchester Airport Group's (MAG) 'Manchester Airport Transformation Programme' will see one of the airport's three terminals closed for the revamp and a series of 60 enhancements made. Key elements include:

- 140% expansion of T2 to become the airport's primary terminal

- Improvement of T3 to accommodate more passengers with a new link to T2 and self check-in facilities

- A US pre-clearance facility to allow passengers to skip the rigmarole of US Customs and Border Protection

- Improved security area to speed up the process

- 50 new food, drink and retail outlets

.£1bn plans for Manchester Airport

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, continued his 'Northern Powerhouse' rhetoric and has strongly backed the announcement:

“Today's announcement of £1 billion of private sector investment in Manchester Airport is a massive vote of confidence in the North of England and in our plan to build a Northern Powerhouse.

“The investment, which will completely transform Manchester Airport and double its capacity, will help ensure that it continues to compete with global airports across the world.

“It will play a key role in this one nation government’s plan to rebalance the UK economy and boost productivity‎ and is fantastic news for working people across the North.”

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, added: “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."

.Plans are separate from the China-backed £800m Airport City

Manchester Airport Group - which also operates Stanstead, East Midlands and Bournemouth aiports - is majority owned by Manchester's ten regional councils (64.5%) and Australia's IFM Investors (35.5%).

Manchester Airport serves over 70 airlines and in excess of 210 short and long haul destinations.

The Manchester Airport Transformation Programme is separate from plans for the China-backed £800m Airport City.

mantp.co.uk