Top UK airport opens huge new departures lounge with interactive Lego store and street food market
TAKE OFF Top UK airport opens huge new departures lounge with interactive Lego store and street food market
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THE largest airport outside of London has opened a new departures lounge as part of its ongoing £1.3 billion transformation.
Manchester Airport's redeveloped Terminal 2 departures lounge has opened to the public with a number of new shops and eateries.
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Manchester Airport has opened its new departures lounge at Terminal 2
Credit: Manchester Airport
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There are six new shops at the airport including a Lego store and Pandora
Credit: Manchester Airport
The upgraded facility now boasts six new shops, including a Lego store which promises an "interactive, family-friendly experience".
Other shops for passengers to explore include Pandora and Rituals.
For dining and refreshments, passengers can stop off at well knwon brands such as Starbucks, Upper Crust and Joe & The Juice.
The departures lounge is part of the airport's decade-long project, which will more than double the terminal's size.
The new opening follows the opening of a terminal extension back in 2021.
In addition, the airport expects the Terminal 2 building to be completed soon.
And there will be even more shops expected to open later in the year, with luxury fashion brand Chanel, WH Smith and a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar.
This is in addition to the Great Northern Market - a food court with a number of street food options.
Once the terminal is fully complete it will also have 13 areas where aircraft will park and boarding gates and Terminal 1 will close.
Manchester Airport anticipates that over 70 per cent of passengers will use the new facilities.
The new £7billion mega terminal opening at Changi Airport
Chris Woodroofe, managing director at Manchester Airport, said: "Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric of this terminal building, from the worker bee and honeycomb motif in the terminal's design, to the many Northern brands operating shops and restaurants in our departures lounge."
The airport also recently opened its new security hall - which will eventually be linked via a walkway to the departures lounge.
This new facility features advanced scanners which will eventually allow passengers to keep liquids within their hand luggage, and it includes 10 new lanes along with updated check-in desks
Over 30million passengers have already used the terminal extension since it opened four years ago.
And last year it was celebrated for its design with a UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award.
Manchester Airport also announced a multi-million-pound investment in Terminal 3 a few months ago.
Plans for Terminal 3 include a new terminal entrance, upgraded security equipment, additional seating, new shops and places to eat, a 500-seat bar offering airfield views and an expanded dining zone.
Five ways to save money at airports
NAVIGATING an airport with a young family without overspending can be tough, but these hacks can help.
'Free' sunscreen - Gather Advantage Card points by recycling beauty empties via the Boots app to spend on sunscreen after security.
Reduced drop-off/pick-up - Check for resident discounts or use free long-term car park shuttles to avoid parking fees.
In-flight food & drink - Pack sandwiches or pot noodles and reusable water bottles to save on expensive airport and airline refreshments.
Cashback for meals - Use cashback sites like Quidco to get extra value on e-gift cards for airport restaurant meals.
Double-duty luggage - Stuff neck pillow covers with soft items or use kids' booster seat backpacks for extra, often free, storage.
A major UK airport has also revealed a huge 15-year masterplan with new long-haul flights and millions more passengers.
Plus, a busy UK airport has opened a new £60million hub marking start of mega makeover – including bigger terminal and more restaurants.
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