It’s been a long time coming – but after several delays, Manchester Airport is finally ready to officially unveil its new Terminal 2.
The first passengers are set to travel through the major ‘Super Terminal’ extension this week.
The extended terminal is the centrepiece of Manchester Airport Group’s (MAG) £1 billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme, which was first announced in 2015 and was scheduled to open in the summer of 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic ground international travel to a halt.
To ensure the smoothest possible opening when flying resumes, MAG has agreed a staggered launch of the new terminal with its airline partners.
It will see Jet2 start flying from there from 14 July – with just three flights on the first day to Menorca, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca – as well as TUI flights from 15 July, with services to a range of destinations including green-listed Malta and Madeira, and Singapore Airlines will move over on the 17th.
Proudly introducing #YourNewT2 ✈️ After 83 years of being the UK's global gateway in the North, we can't wait to welcome the first passengers to our new T2 from July 14th!
So, what can travellers expect from the new terminal then?
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According to MAG, the expanded terminal has a light, bright and airy check-in hall, with designs that set the tone for what passengers can expect throughout, as well as 10 new security areas that make use of the latest technology to allow people to flow through as quickly and easily as possible.
The new departure lounge features include a honeycomb light installation with 16 million settings that proudly illuminates the space and gives a nod to the famous Manchester worker bee.
Centre stage is an 81 square metre digital screen showing flight information.
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The shops, cafes, bars and restaurants on offer – many hailing from the north, as well as a series of popular chains – have committed to serving customers at high street prices.
The expanded terminal has a light, bright and airy check-in hall, with designs that set the tone for what passengers can expect throughout / Credit: Manchester Airport Group (MAG)The new departure lounge features include a honeycomb light installation with 16 million settings / Credit: Manchester Airport Group (MAG)
Initially, Pret-a-Manger, Costa Coffee, KFC, The Amber Alehouse and The Bridgewater Exchange by Joseph Holt will be open to customers, and Manchester institution Archie’s will open its new Terminal Two location on Thursday, as will juice bar VIT, while other venues will open once more passengers start using the terminal.
Two airport-operated lounges, with a combined capacity of 400, are based on the upper level with floor to ceiling windows giving passengers panoramic views over the airfield.
Passengers arriving into the hub will be met by a new immigration facility that’s four times larger than before, as well as a modern new baggage reclaim.
The new terminal will also be fully COVID-19 secure and will have a range of safety measures in place that have throughout the airport during the pandemic – including an enhanced cleaning and sanitising regime.
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Speaking ahead of the terminal’s opening, Karen Smart – Managing Director of Manchester Airport – said: “After a long wait, we are delighted to confirm the first passengers will be able to enjoy our new Terminal Two this week [which] is a proud milestone for our airport as we begin to emerge from the restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 crisis, and an important moment in our 83-year history.
“This project was always about offering the modern airport experience that families and businesses across the north deserve as they travel through their international gateway to the world, and our new terminal certainly delivers on that goal.
“The impact of the pandemic on the travel industry means we are not able to immediately welcome as many customers and airlines into this fantastic new facility as we would have hoped [but] as government restrictions continue to be eased, and travel to more destinations is opened up in the weeks ahead, we will be making further announcements about the carriers and retailers operating from T2.
“In the meantime, we look forward to celebrating this milestone and welcoming those who are travelling through the new terminal later this week.”
Featured Image – Manchester Airport Group (MAG)
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Tickets go live as opening date is announced for Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience
Emily Sergeant
Tickets to visit Manchester City’s new ‘immersive’ museum experience have officially gone live ahead of the grand opening.
Set to open in the heart of the £300m Medlock Square entertainment district at Manchester’s Etihad Campus next month, the Manchester City Museum Experience will be spread across 10 distinctive spaces – with visitors invited to take a trip down memory lane with nostalgic environments from throughout the club’s history.
Fans will also be able to take part in interactive media experiences, like posing with all 48 major trophies won by the club’s first teams or trying their hand at football punditry.
The experience will combine the latest immersive technology with physical memorabilia drawn from across the club’s history to do this.
Hidden details and surprising ‘did you know’ facts are set to be embedded across the experience, so that even the most devoted Man City fans will have the chance to discover something new about the club they love.
By combining interactive environments, technology, and authentic artefacts, the experience is aiming to appeal to a wide audience – from lifelong Manchester City supporters, to families and those with a broader interest in football, culture, and the city of Manchester.
“The Museum Experience has been designed as a destination that goes beyond just the pitch,” commented Jeremy Maxton, who is the Director of Visitor Attractions at Manchester City Football Club.
Manchester City releases CGIs and important details of its new ‘immersive’ museum / Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
“Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, visiting Manchester for a weekend, or simply looking for a unique day out, we’ve created an experience that offers something for everyone.
“From the recreated environments and original memorabilia to the interactive elements, there are different ways into the Club’s history throughout the Museum.
“We’ve also built in space for new stories to be added over time, so the experience can continue to evolve. It’s been a huge project to bring together and we’re looking forward to people seeing it for themselves later this year.”
The Manchester City Museum Experience officially opens on 14 December, and you can now book tickets to visit from that date here.
Featured Image – Credit: Manchester City / Ralph Appelbaum Associates (RAA)
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TfGM apologises after two weeks of major tram disruption across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
Trams have finally resumed running in Greater Manchester following two weeks of major disruption across the Metrolink network.
Tram services have resumed across the Altrincham, Eccles, and Trafford Park lines this morning (Monday 2 November) following the completion of major track replacement work between Trafford Bar and Deansgate-Castlefield, while maintenance and renewal work also took place on the Eccles line and in the city centre during the planned closure.
Engineers replaced around 4km of track on what is said to be one of the ‘busiest and most complex’ sections of the Metrolink network.
The new track will allow further speed restrictions to be lifted, as according to TfGM, around 100,000 journeys are already benefiting from journey time improvements delivered through previous phases of work every day.
It all forms part of the next phase of the ongoing £150m investment into Greater Manchester’s tram network in a bid to make it ‘safer’ and ‘more resilient and reliable’ for years to come.
✅ This morning, tram services have resumed on the Altrincham, East Didsbury, Eccles, Manchester Airport and Trafford Park lines.
We thank customers for their patience and understanding while these works took place.
↪️ A small service change remains in place through the city centre until the end of service on Wednesday 4 November.
Until then, trams on the Bury – Altrincham, and Victoria – Manchester Airport lines will divert via Exchange Square. Customers may need to change trams to reach Shudehill or Market Street.
👉 Find out more: https://t.co/Vm08ZEDUq4
With services now back up and running, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has issued a statement apologising for disruption.
Ian Davies, who is the Network Director for Metrolink at TfGM, commented: “This was an essential piece of engineering work on one of the busiest parts of our tram network and will help keep services safe, reliable and fit for the future.
“We’re sorry for the disruption and I’d like to thank passengers, residents, and businesses for their patience while we got on with the job.
“The upgrades mean customers will benefit from smoother journeys and allow us to lift further speed restrictions on this section of the network. It will help speed up our journeys and improve reliability for everyone who uses our network.
“Completing work of this scale on time is a significant achievement and I’d like to thank everyone involved for getting it done safely and efficiently.”
Emily Sergeant -
12th July 2021 
