Manchester Airport Expansion .

A few reasons here why the AVP will be moving.

Manchester Airport set for major expansion programme

Work has begun on a multi-million pound development scheme to increase the capacity of Manchester Airport by 11 million passengers a year, as passenger numbers continue to soar.

This week, Manchester achieved 22 million passengers a year, just 14 months after it celebrated the 20 million mark. The airport’s master plan identified this milestone as the point at which the airport needs to increase its capacity to be able to continue to grow.

Several major expansion projects are now being kick started. These include:

Terminal 2 Phase 2, the multi-million pound project that will see the capacity of Terminal 2 more than double from its current 7 million to 18 million passengers per year begins this month
The airport is also investing in the airfield, with additional apron capacity around Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 to provide the equivalent of six wide- body or 12 narrow-body aircraft stands
Over 49 new check-in desks across the airport. Twenty-two in Terminal 1, 15 in ‘The Station’ and 12 in Terminal 2.

By 2015, the number of passengers flying from Manchester is set to double to around 40 million every year – nine million more passengers than Gatwick Airport currently handles.

The Department for Transport has said it expects regional airports to grow more rapidly than those in the South East, where the air travel market is more mature.

John Spooner, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: “We have been planning the expansion announced today for a number of years.

“The airport has grown rapidly over that time, with more airlines launching more new routes than ever before.

“By investing in these major expansion projects within the current airport site, and making enhancements to the existing infrastructure, we will be able to accommodate the expected growth and provide a firm foundation for the future.”