Travel & Tourism

Manchester Airport reveals multi-million-pound plans for much-maligned Terminal 3

The news Mancs have been waiting on for years.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 14th May 2025

Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3 has become a bit of a meme of itself in recent years, with Mancs dreading a holiday that starts in the travel hub’s smallest terminal.

But now Manchester Airport has unveiled a multi-million pound project to totally revamp the space with a new entrance, more seats, new shops, new food and drink outlets, and state-of-the-art security equipment.

Set to complete next year, it’s part of the airport’s wider decade-long £1.3bn transformation programme, which has already seen Terminal 2 extended and redeveloped.

And now Manchester Airport has announced that Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 will merge into a much bigger travel hub to improve the passenger experience.

Visitors will first come across a remodelled entrance, as well as new security halls and departure lounges, with loads more space.

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There’ll be brand-new security equipment to speed up passenger journeys, and 40% more seating capacity in the departures lounge.

A new 500-seat bar area with airfield views will be included in the revamped Terminal 3, plus an expanded 200-extra-seat dining area.

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As for Terminal 2, phase one completed in 2021, winning the prestigious UNESCO-backed Prix Versailles award for architecture and design, with phase two set for completion later this year – that’ll bring the existing building up to the standard of the new extension and will include more than 20 new retailers, bars and restaurants.

CGIs of the new-look Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport
CGIs of the new-look Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport
CGIs of the new-look Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport
CGIs of the new-look Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport

Terminal 2 will host more than 70% of Manchester Airport’s total passengers, with the rest travelling through this new and improved Terminal 3 building that will include some of the existing Terminal 1 footprint.

Manchester Airport Managing Director Chris Woodroofe said: “We are proud to connect the people of the North to the world – and our transformation programme means that our passengers will be able to enjoy an airport experience that rivals that of any European capital city.

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“The work we’ve done in Terminal 2 is there for all to see – and we’ve already won the prestigious Prix Versailles award for its architecture and design. But until now we haven’t talked about our plans for Terminal 3. 

“Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We’re doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more. 

“It’s another exciting step towards delivering an even better experience for our passengers and I can’t wait to see it progress.”

Featured image: Manchester Airport Group

Travel & Tourism

Great Manchester Run guide 2025 – everything you need to know

Danny Jones Danny Jones Great Manchester Run guide 2025

The AJ Bell Great Manchester Run returns this month, and with more spectators and people taking part than ever, we thought it’d be handy to put together another little event guide for you.

Whether you’re running it or cheering your friends, family and complete strangers from the sidelines, it’s set to be a massive day that involves a lot of planning and logistics, so we’ll help however we can.

You only have to see the months of time and effort that went into making this year’s Manchester Marathon the incredible success that it was, and the Great Run Company are no different.

So, without further ado, here’s all the important information you need to know ahead of the 2025 Great Manchester Run.

2025 Great Manchester Run guide – all the key info

What is the Great Manchester Run route this year?

Where else better to start than with this year’s Great Manchester Run? Anyone who’s coming back for more will be glad to hear that it remains pretty much unchanged from the 2024 edition and years prior.

Starting once again along the busy Portland Street strip before the half-marathon runners head towards Mancunian Way, participants will pass along Chester Road and on towards Manchester United’s legendary stadium, Old Trafford, before heading back into the city for a grandstand finish on Deansgate.

The 10k route essentially takes out the section heading towards East Manchester and the loop in front of Man City’s equally iconic Etihad Stadium, but still capitalises on all the best and biggest spots for atmosphere. Here you can see the maps in more detail HERE.

Credit: AJ Bell Great Manchester Run (supplied)

Great Manchester Run waves and start times

In terms of when the action will be getting underway, as ever, the hordes of runners will be broken up into various coloured waves depending on their estimated finish time; these colours are clearly visible on your race bib.

You can see a full breakdown below:

  • 8:10am – 10k Elite Wheelchair start
  • 8:15am – Half Marathon Orange Wave start
  • 8:40am – Half Marathon Green Wave start
  • 11:30am – 10k Elite Women start
  • 11:45am – 10k Elite Men start
  • 11:45am – 10k Fast Paced and Orange Wave start
  • 12:05am – 10k Green Wave start
  • 12:50pm – 10k Purple Wave start
  • 13:10pm – 10k Pink Wave start

Runners should have received said bibs in their race packs via the post by now, but if you need to pick up in person or source a replacement for whatever reason, they can be collected during race week.

You can find out where to do so, including other common FAQs, right HERE.

Great MCR Run travel info and road closures

Now, naturally, when such a huge event with more than 30,000 runners is set to take over the city, not to mention the 100k+ spectators that are expected to line the streets on the day, it’s always going to have an impact on travel.

Those watching on the sidelines are being urged to use public transport wherever possible, with extra trams being put on throughout the day and various other arms of the Bee Network helping people get around the event.

If you do end up driving into the region for the action, we would recommend you use one of Greater Manchester’s many park and ride sites and then use one of our many Metrolink services to travel into the city centre itself.

You can also use Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) journey planner online and see a full list of the confirmed road closures HERE.

Meanwhile, the Bee Network also have an interactive traffic map for the event:

Cheer zones and support hubs: best spots to watch the Great Manchester Run

For those of you set to line the streets and provide your much-needed support on race day, there are some key sections where the atmosphere from the crowd will be injected into the runners.

As well as a Heart Radio pop-up station, drummers, local choirs and plenty more surprises to keep your energy pumping throughout, there’ll be some big corners to look out for your loved ones.

You can find some of the main supporter hotspots and where they are along the route here:

  • St Peter’s Square – for the start line
  • Manchester Piccadilly – 2-mile marker
  • Etihad Campus/Velopark – 4/5-mile marker
  • Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 10/11-mile marker
  • Cornbrook – 12-mile marker
  • Deansgate-Castlefield exchange – for the finish line

10k

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  • St Peter’s Square – for the start line
  • Cornbrook – 2km marker
  • Old Trafford – 4km marker
  • Wharfside/Imperial War Museum – 6km marker
  • Cornbrook – 9km marker
  • Deansgate-Castlefield corner – for the finish line

Wherever you decide to watch, just make sure you bring the same kind of wholesome energy that these queens did…

Read more:

One final message

Now, we’re not going to waste too much time reminding you to wash your race kit, stock up on safety pins and get all your other gear ready, but what we will do is remind you to go out there and have fun.

Whatever/whoever you’re doing the 2025 Great Manchester Run for, just know that we’re unbelievably proud of you all and no matter how the day goes, we want you to soak up every single cheer, bell and scream. We’ll see you at the finish line.

Now go put the great in Greater Manchester – we know going to smash it!

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Phlip Oldham/Press Shots (supplied)

Travel & Tourism

Ruben Amorim reportedly paying for staff members flights ahead of the Europa League final

Danny Jones Danny Jones Ruben Amorim paying for Man United staff flights Europa League final

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly covering the cost of flights for several staff members and families around the club ahead of this month’s Europa League final.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 May, Man United take on Spurs in UEFA’s second-string continental competition, giving the Red Devils a chance at lifting the trophy for the second time and, more importantly, getting into the Champions League next year.

Not only is this European final in a United manager’s maiden season a feat only previously achieved by Jose Mourinho, who also won it in his inaugural campaign at the club, but it also happens to be the first of Amorim’s career full stop.

With that in mind, the Portuguese head coach is hoping to rope in as much positivity and support as possible, so despite cost-cutting measures around the club over the last 18 months, Amorim is reaching into his own pocket to pay for staff and some of the family members to be at the final.

Now this is the kind of leadership supporters like to see.

According to ESPN sports writer Mark Ogden, at least 30 members of his backroom staff have seen their travel to the final paid for after the club said they would not be covering the increasingly inflated prices, with flights to Bilbao unsurprisingly skyrocketing.

The Athletic‘s Mark Critchley has gone on to detail that “coaches, physios and support staff would instead be able to purchase up to two tickets”, while only two complimentary family tickets have been granted per player.

If you’re wondering why fans continue to make his name echo around the Theatre of Dreams in spite of poor performances, gestures like this should tell you why.

The 40-year-old’s debut Premier League season might be one to forget, with his team set to record United’s worst-ever finish, but a final at the first time of asking, even with a squad that’s visibly struggling to adjust to yet another period of overhaul, is still an achievement – especially a European one.

In addition to admitting that he’s been left “embarrassed” by the league form, he says one of his biggest fears is that everyone around Old Trafford is “losing the feeling of being a massive club”, both inside and out. Obviously, he’s hoping that potentially winning another European title will help fix that.

United played out a forgettable 2-0 loss to West Ham this past weekend in what should have felt like a bit of a free hit, but ultimately resulted in starting centre-back Leny Yoro picking up another injury and key players exerting a lot more energy than many would have hoped.

Most fans were expecting to see the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo and so on rested to keep that balance between sharpness and recovery, but many first-choice players played far more minutes than was arguably necessary.

Whether or not this is all in line with his thinking, we’ll have to wait and see when the Reds rock up to the Basque Country a week from now

One thing we do know is there’ll be plenty of places to watch it back home.

A massive Manchester United fan zone is being set up for the Europa League final
Where are you watching it?

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Agência Lusa/Sky Sports (via YouTube)/Panoramio (via Wikicommons)

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