13-05-2025
Manchester Airport announces new transformation project for Terminal 3
Manchester Airport has announced a new multi-million pound investment which will see Terminal 3 get a revamp.
The project will remodel the terminal's entrance, security hall and departure lounge, giving passengers more space.
It will also make way for new retailers and update the look and feel of the building.
The Northern hub launched its ambitious transformation programme in 2015. It involves doubling the size of Terminal 2 and closing Terminal 1 – but now the airport has set out how it plans to use some of the space in Terminal 1 after it closes to expand the adjoining Terminal 3.
It's #MANTPMonday ✈️ and we're flying high over some big changes! Check out the bold new blue and orange taxiways on November Alpha which will be coming soon to November Bravo, plus progress on Taxiway Echo and the Central Gyratory. 🛠️👷♂️ Our airfield is transforming, and this…
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) May 12, 2025
Key elements of the investment in Terminal 3 are:
A new entrance to the terminal with more space, easier access and better facilities
Brand new security equipment
40% more seating capacity in the departure lounge
New shops and food and drink outlets
A new 500 seat bar area with airfield views
An expanded dining area with 200 extra seats
More shops and facilities landside in the arrivals area of the terminal
The key part of the airport's decade long £1.3 billion transformation programme is the brand-new Terminal 2.
The first phase of the programme saw an extension added to the existing Terminal 2 building to double its size. The extension opened in 2021 and has now served more than 30 million passengers and won the UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award for architecture and design.
The second phase of the project is due to be completed later this year and brings the existing part of the building up to the same standard as the extension with the addition of more than 20 new retailers, bars and restaurants.
The wait is over! Terminal 3 just got a whole lot better. Today, we announced our long awaited plans for Terminal 3. There are lots of exciting investments coming including: 🛬 A new entrance to the terminal with more space, easier access and better facilities 🛂 Brand new…
— Manchester Airport (@manairport) May 13, 2025
Once it is complete, the new terminal will become the beating heart of the airport, with more than 70% of all passengers eventually using it.
Terminal 1, as it currently exists, will close, but Manchester Airport has now set out details of how it will retain parts of the building to give Terminal 3 a bigger footprint as both terminals are joined together.
Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: 'We are proud to connect the people of the North to the world – and our transformation programme means that our passengers will be able to enjoy an airport experience that rivals that of any European capital city.
'The jobs" target="_blank">work we've done in Terminal 2 is there for all to see – and we've already won the prestigious Prix Versailles award for its architecture and design. But until now we haven't talked about our plans for Terminal 3.
'Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We're doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more.
'It's another exciting step towards delivering an even better experience for our passengers and I can't wait to see it progress.'
The airport's transformation programme began in 2015 and will be complete later this year.
Among the updates is that check-in desks in the newest section of Terminal 2 have now opened – soon to be followed by the new security hall.
Retail spaces in the new part of the terminal have been handed over to the brands that will run them so they can be fitted out, ready to open later this year.
Work to build a brand-new road near Terminal 2 is ongoing - Sydney Avenue will be a new link road near the Thorley Lane entrance to the airport site.
The new road will replace the existing Sydney Avenue and will improve traffic flow around the area, the airport explains.
Recommended reading:
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The first trials of new taxiways on the airfield have also passed by successfully. The new taxiways allow for more aircraft movements on the airfield and represent a significant step in opening the full capacity of the new terminal.
External work on the new pier on Terminal 2, which is the second pier, has also been completed, taking it a significant step closer to completion.
The piers on the terminal are structures that extend from the main building and are home to the gates where passengers embark and disembark.
Are you excited for the changes at Manchester Airport? Let us know in the comments.
