From MAplc website today
Manchester Airport Set For Expansion As Passenger Numbers Continue To Soar
Work has begun on a multi-million pound development scheme to increase the capacity of Manchester Airport by 11 million passengers a year, as passenger numbers continue to soar.
This week, Manchester achieved 22 million passengers a year, just 14 months after it celebrated the 20 million mark. The airport’s master plan identified this milestone as the point at which the airport needs to increase its capacity to be able to continue to grow.
Several major expansion projects are now being kick started. These include:
Terminal 2 Phase 2, the multi-million pound project that will see the capacity of Terminal 2 more than double from its current 7 million to 18 million passengers per year begins this month
The airport is also investing in the airfield, with additional apron capacity around Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to provide the equivalent of six wide-body or 12 narrow-body aircraft stands
Over 49 new check-in desks across the airport. Twenty-two in Terminal 1, 15 in ‘The Station’ and 12 in Terminal 2.
By 2015, the number of passengers flying from Manchester is set to double to around 40 million every year – nine million more passengers than Gatwick Airport currently handles.
The Department for Transport has said it expects regional airports to grow more rapidly than those in the South East, where the air travel market is more mature. Regional airports like Manchester can flourish as airlines look to operate more point-to-point services using smaller aircraft. This is supported by statistics released earlier this year by the Civil Aviation Authority, which showed that in 2004, Manchester grew faster than both Heathrow and Gatwick.
John Spooner, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “We have been planning the expansion announced today for a number of years.
“The airport has grown rapidly over that time, with more airlines launching more new routes than ever before.
“By investing in these major expansion projects within the current airport site, and making enhancements to the existing infrastructure, we will be able to accommodate the expected growth and provide a firm foundation for the future.”
Neil Fountain, Chief Executive of MIDAS, Manchester's Investment Agency, said: "This is excellent news for the entire Manchester city-region. Manchester Airport is one of the most important drivers for economic and business growth and this expansion programme will bring benefits far beyond the value of the capital investment involved, through direct job creation and the benefits of new routes.
"The investment will further increase the visibility and status of Manchester in the eyes of the international business community, showcasing the wide range of opportunities for business success and the locational advantages that Manchester offers to companies from around the globe."
ENDS