Manchester Airport is an enigma. They have 3 of the largest UK charter operators (TOM/TCX/MON) putting hundreds of thousands of pax through all year round. TCX calls it home base. The charter pax spend FAR more in the terminals than scheduled pax, yet the airport master plan is to shove all charters into T2 and leave T1 for the 'premium' scheduled traffic. Absolutely ridiculous!!! The airport chases a single rotation schedule operator like they were the golden goose egg and then crows about the airports' international connections. They really need to look at where their main revenue stream is coming from and invest some time and money there. One extra 777 might make the spotters go whooppee in the viewing park but they actively turned away the opportunity of an extra plane from my outfit. Newcastle were much more supportive both financially and operationally. The whole airport is a mishmash of ill-designed and badly laid out buildings and taxiways. They have installed a 'new' guidance system onto stand 23. Half the time it doesn't work and MAG think they are doing a great job. Half the developing world has proper guidance. Manchester has to file an ICAO difference due to its' non standard stand guidance.
Absolutely ridiculous. The people at the top need to take a long hard look and stop spouting about master plans for the next 300 years!