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Sneak peak inside Manchester Airport’s brand new terminal following £1.3bn transformation

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Manchester Airport has released video giving passengers a taste of what Terminal 2 will look like when it fully opens later this year.

You may already know that the first phase of the airport’s £1.3 billion transformation programme being carried out over 10 years was finished back in 2021, when an extension that doubled the size of Terminal 2 opened to the public.

But now we’ve been given a glimpse into what the full finished product will look like.

The first phase of the programme has already received the prestigious UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award for architecture and design, so the transformation is already off to a flying start.

A new duty free will also be added to Manchester Airport Terminal 2 along with the new food and drink offerings. Credit: MAG
CGIs of what Terminal 2 will look like once it’s fully open later this year / Credit: MAG

Since the completion of phase one, lots has been happening – including ongoing work to revamp the original part of the building, and create more space for seating, security, shops, restaurants, and check-in along the way.

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Crucially last year, Manchester Airport announced the names of more than 20 new shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars that will be opening in the new part of the terminal later this year.

Now though, the airport has shared a fly-through video showing what passengers will experience when they use the new terminal.

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The video augments CGIs of parts of the terminal that are under construction with the parts that have been finished to show the full experience.

“It’s so exciting for us to finally be able to share this video our passengers, so they can get a preview of what they’ll be able to experience here later on this year,” commented Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, Chris Woodroofe, as the video was released this week.

“Our transformation programme has been 10 years and £1.3bn in the making, but now we’re in the final stages of finishing everything off to open it to the public later this year.”

Mr Woodroofe says there’s a “huge amount of work going on” all over the airport, but this video shows that it will “all be worth it” in the end.

He also added that the transformation isn’t just limited to Terminal 2 either, as work is also being done to modernise the airfield, building a new road to improve access to the new terminal, and improvements to Terminal 3 are also on the horizon – with announcements on this expected to be coming soon.

Read more:

More than 35 million passengers have already used the Terminal 2 extension, but millions more will fly in and out when it fully opens later this year.

Featured Image – MAG

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Coronation Street and Emmerdale cancel filming after news of cutbacks and reduced schedule

Danny Jones Danny Jones Coronation Street and Emmerdale cutbacks

Coronation Street and Emmerdale production crews are said to have cancelled at least one day of filming this week following news of more cutbacks and a reduced schedule of programming.

The beloved British soaps have been up against it for some time now, with viewing figures and costs struggling at both ends of the spectrum, and the latest development doesn’t spell great news for the cast and crew, not to mention audiences.

According to Digital Spy, regularly scheduled filming was due to take place in Manchester and Leeds on Tuesday, 5 February, with each show shooting roughly six to eight weeks in advance of storylines.

However, following reports of more hits to the industry and the latest steps ITV, specifically, which will see fewer episodes of both Corrie and Emmerdale air each week, film crews are said to have been stood down as they await further updates.

corrie less episodes
Part of the Coronation Street set over in Salford Quays. (Credit: The Manc Group)

Announcing steps at the start of February, ITV confirmed that Coronation Street and Emmerdale are to see their content cut by an hour a week between them from next year.

While Corrie currently broadcasts three hour-long episodes per week and Emmerdale four half-hour episodes plus one full-hour instalment, the new slate will see both soaps dial back to only air 30-minute episodes, with a so-called ‘soaps power hour’ every both shows at 8pm and 8:30pm.

Put in simplest terms, viewers will have half an hour less of their regular soaps to watch overall each week but with episodes airing at more regular intervals, which the network claims is “viewer-led” and will allow fans to enjoy the shows “in the most digestible way.”

Metro writer Duncan Lindsay has labelled the decision as a tough one to make but something that could ultimately “save” the two long-standing soap operas in the long run.

On the other hand, this obviously means a big chunk of work being lost for those working on sets across the board, with ITV having already taken steps to cut costs ever since the pandemic, and the UK’s viewing public has given mixed reactions, to say the least.

With an increased focus on streaming and making both shows more accessible, episodes will continue to be released from 7am on ITVX before airing on live telly later that evening.

Responding to the changes, the performing arts union Equity admitted that the steps do cause “further cause for concern”, especially following the cancellation of other soaps like Doctors and Hollyoaks also having recently seen its schedule adjusted.

Meanwhile, there still remains a loyal and passionate viewership for both iconic UK shows and Corrie, in particular, notched yet another award for best soap/continuing drama at the 2025 Broadcast Awards.

Cast and crews are understood to have paused filming just for the day to address the situation and inform everyone working on the Coronation Street and Weatherfield sets, and we sincerely hope they’re back up and running as per usual.

What do you make of the cutbacks – is it a bittersweet step that could help freshen up the format and sustain it for years to come, or are you just gutted that the end result is simply less telly each week?

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Featured Images — ITV/The Manc Group

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