All eyes are on Manchester Airport at the moment, with most of us wanting to get away over the summer. Now, a new section of the redeveloped Manchester Airport Terminal 2 departure lounge has now opened, with six new shops and eateries joining an already extensive array of options for passengers travelling through the terminal over the school summer holidays.
Renowned high street brands LEGO, Rituals and Pandora have opened their first units at Manchester Airport, and new options for those wanting to grab a bite to eat or drink before they catch their flight include coffee giant Starbucks, baguette specialists Upper Crust, and juice bar Joe & The Juice.
The opening marks the latest milestone in the 10-year, £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2, more than doubling the terminal’s size and creating a world-class passenger experience. An extension to the terminal opened in 2021, and the airport is now in the final stages of overhauling the original Terminal 2 building to bring it up to the same standard as the extension, mirroring the modern look and feel.
More than 70% of the airport’s passengers will use the new facilities and Terminal 1 is set to close when the project is completed later this year.
Further shops and restaurants are expected to open at the Manchester Airport Terminal 2 lounge later this year – including Chanel, Grindsmith by WHSmith, a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, and the Great Northern Market – a food court with a selection of street food options.
Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, said: “It’s wonderful to see more of our new-look Terminal 2 opening to the public, further enhancing the world class passenger experience that this terminal offers. We have a busy few months ahead of us as we finish this transformative 10-year project.
“We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the world, and these new facilities will allow them to travel in the style befitting a major international hub, while also creating a striking first impression for visitors to our region.”
The finalised terminal will also include 13 new flexible aircraft stands and boarding gates, currently under construction, and a passageway linking the new security hall with the departure lounge will feature a chandelier installation, paying homage to the much-loved Venetian chandeliers that graced Terminal 1 in the 1980s and 1990s.
More than 30 million passengers have already travelled through the terminal extension since it opened in 2021, and last year it claimed a prestigious, UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award recognising its outstanding design.