We're Doomed, Mr Mainwaring!
There can be a tendency for those of us on the outside of a planning process to believe that if we haven't heard about something it mustn't be happening. You may recall discussion on these pages suggesting that Manchester Airport should be pursuing a US PDC operation. Then, suddenly, the announcement came that this was in the advanced stages of planning. Work had clearly been going on quietly for quite some time to get to that stage ... there was just no need to let the public in on the plans any sooner.
Likewise, some here are presuming the worst about the terminal complex redesign now. Can you contemplate how much work has already gone in to get to the stage we are at now? When do you think that started? The airlines have known about all this for quite some time. Now think back. 2008. The credit crisis. The business world falling apart. Expansion couldn't be contemplated then, and if it had been funds could not have been raised. Add on a decent interval for economic recovery and an in-house expansion decision and look where we are now. They actually didn't waste much time. A planning process on this scale requires years.
What we do know is that the construction process is set to begin with a large-scale expansion of T2 to the West. Pier C will be demolished as soon as practicable to enable unrestricted aircraft access to the T2 complex. The design is such that this will not result in significant loss of gates. The finger piers will be spaced such that one pushback will not prevent a simultaneous pushback from the opposite side of the cul-de-sac (reducing scope for delays). Eventually, airside transfer will be possible from the most westerly T2 gate to the most easterly T3 gate. Total airside connectivity. And the final airside stand layout will be consistent and logical all the way across from W to E. Subject to final approval from the US authorities, US PDC will be built-in (the final decision on that is theirs). So aren't these the main features that we all hoped to see? What (within reason) would you like to see done differently?
There will be challenges, of course. That is inevitable. Keeping things running smoothly during the construction phase. Negotiating the next recession, because over the next fifteen years there is likely to be at least one. If we get a 2008 - The Sequel episode the whole project could be delayed. But a logical modular plan means that delayed phases can be re-activated as economic conditions improve again.
Don't worry. They've thought it all through. They just don't need to share the finer details with us lot straight off the bat.