If you fly Ryanair from Manchester, your departure lounge is about to get a whole lot roomier. Manchester Airport has approved a project to enlarge the Terminal 3 departure lounge by more than a third, adding roughly 2,000 square metres of floorspace.
Work on the multimillion-pound project is expected to finish in 2028. The extra space will bring more natural light and added seating, plus room for new shops, food and drink outlets.
What’s changing at Manchester Airport Terminal 3 departure lounge?
The expansion will use space that was once part of the landside operation in Terminal 3 and has been out of use since late last year. Terminals 1 and 3 are joined, and parts of Terminal 1, including its security hall and entrance, are already part of Terminal 3.
Terminal 3 now serves the airport’s Ryanair passengers exclusively, and it has already seen some changes. The terminal now has a new entrance and security area in place, and the Sporting Chance bar has opened. An Italian restaurant, Terracotta, is set to open in the coming weeks.
Retail tender and next steps
The next stage is a competitive tender to bring new retailers into the added space. The airport will announce details of the process in the coming weeks.
Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said the airport is “ready to accelerate” the work to give Ryanair passengers more space and facilities. “It’s a really exciting project, and I’m really pleased to see it starting to take off,” he said.
The project follows the redevelopment of Terminal 2. Over the last decade, the airport has invested around £1.5bn in the terminal, which now handles around 75% of its passengers, allowing the old Terminal 1 to close.
