Manchester airport to take much bigger roleMANCHESTER Airport has unveiled ambitious expansion plans that could see passenger numbers double to 40 million over the next decade as well as changing its facilities.The development programme is expected to provide an economic boost for the region where it has long been regarded as a key to its industrial and commercial regeneration.
Up to 20,000 new jobs are expected to be created in the phased construction programme, with work at Terminal 2 likely to start as early as next year. The scheme will initially increase capacity by 11 million travellers a year from the current 22 million.
The airport has 100,000 flights a year and the development plans include provision for more aircraft stands and 50 new check-in desks. More than £35 million is to be spent on redevelopment of Terminal 1, the airport’s busiest, leading to the creation of the UK’s largest airside shopping hall.
The decision follows a study into the behaviour of passengers and their state of mind as they travel through the airport. Psychologists assessed their body language and monitored their comments and conversations to help create a picture of the emotions passengers experience from first arriving at the airport to stepping on board their plane.
The results have been used by the airport to redesign Terminal 1 in partnership with Milligan, the retail development specialist. One of the main findings of the study by the psychologists was that passengers find the security screening process stressful and are keen to get it over as quickly as possible.
The development will expand and relocate the security area to directly behind the main check-in hall to encourage passengers to move straight through to the new retail, drinking and dining facilities, which are zoned airside.
Shops and services that passengers visit before they are screened for security will be cut back. The decision to focus the new retail offering on the airside after security clearance is based on research findings that showed passengers were unable to relax fully until they had completed security checks.
Changes to security rules, particularly those relating to liquids, have increased passenger stress and Manchester Airport is the first in the UK to respond to altered passenger buying patterns with such a comprehensive redevelopment.
The new tax and duty free store outlet will cover 2,322 sq m (25,000 sq ft) and be one of the largest in the UK. There will also be a specially designed shopping zone featuring quality high street brands as well as a new, large drinking and dining area.
The first phase of the project will see the creation of a large pub and mezzanine bar and dining area costing £5 million. The pub is due to be completed and open by June 2008.