Manchester Airport overtakes London Stansted to become the UK's 3rd busiest airport

[WestCoast]

That sounds about right, there just isn't anything there anymore in comparison to the myriad of stores and food and drink vendors that there used to be, remember the bug windows in the food court area of Terminal 1? A great chance to sit there and watch planes in the warm and dry as well as have a bite to eat...

I do remember the large shopping and dining areas of Terminals 1 & 2, I used to really like the windows at T1 that you mention. Terminal 3 wasn't quite as extensive pre-security as I remember.

I think moving everything airside was for a number of reasons (and it's been done at other UK airports; Liverpool immediately springs to mind). Firstly, to get more revenue from the shops as people couldn't buy liquids before security after the rules changed, so sales of those goods plummeted. Secondly, as security measures have increased, people want to get through earlier, so they have more time to shop/eat post-security.

That's looking at it from a purely commercial point of view, but I agree the layout was better back then.

 

[317666]

Maybe they could skip that and go straight to Manchester...

Thurso Airport anyone?

 

[WestCoast]

Thurso Airport anyone?

That would have to be the old RAF Dounreay, I think that might be pushing it a bit.

 

[Schnellzug]

Do people want to have more time to shop/eat, or do they just want to get on a plane?

 

[starrymarkb]

It's not Zurich Kloten or Singapore Changi, but compared to some of the shacks and mad houses I've seen that manage to pass for airports, I don't find it too bad. At least it has good transport links and enough capacity for current usage.

Visit somewhere like Rome Fiumicino and you'll see what an awful airport looks like; chaotic and downright dingy being the best description.

I've heard from a pilot I know that Rome Fiumicino is horrific from their point of view too!

Then there is Barcelona
[youtube]0bDOZooUUNE[/youtube]
(BTW that is the same voice as the official ATIS)

 

[WestCoast]

Do people want to have more time to shop/eat, or do they just want to get on a plane?

I guess it depends on the type of passenger. Passengers travelling for business purposes or people perhaps only on a short 'commuter' flight will usually want to just board their aircraft.

However, for some people going on holiday (and Manchester has a lot of these passengers), the holiday starts at the airport.

The latest trick airports are using is to force everyone to go through the duty free shop before you can reach the gates!
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(BTW that is the same voice as the official ATIS)

"That big dark object is actually an Iberia 757!", "but still expect to be cut up by an Air Nostrum".

 

[trentside]

The latest trick airports are using is to force everyone to go through the duty free shop before you can reach the gates!

One of my real pet hates, and something MAG are adopting with enthusiasm.

At Terminal 1 they've done a good job of hiding the signs too - forcing you to weave through various displays on your way through. Same thing done at East Midlands, but the route through is a bit clearer.

 

[WestCoast]

One of my real pet hates, and something MAG are adopting with enthusiasm.

At Terminal 1 they've done a good job of hiding the signs too - forcing you to weave through various displays on your way through. Same thing done at East Midlands, but the route through is a bit clearer.

Indeed, Terminals 1 & 2 at Manchester have adopted this layout, but Terminal 3 hasn't. However, the route from security to the departure lounge in Terminal 3 is quite poor at the moment (it's been a very narrow corridor since security control was relocated).

 

[radamfi]

It is a good idea for Manchester Airport to have three separate terminals, with 1 and 3 right next to each other, or would it be better for 1 and 3 to be combined into one terminal? Or does it make no real difference? Gatwick only has two terminals but has a lot more passengers and flights.

 

[WestCoast]

It is a good idea for Manchester Airport to have three separate terminals, with 1 and 3 right next to each other, or would it be better for 1 and 3 to be combined into one terminal? Or does it make no real difference? Gatwick only has two terminals but has a lot more passengers and flights.

I don't think it makes a difference really, they are closely linked landside and I am of the opinion that smaller terminals are better for passengers.

Terminal 3 has an interesting history; it was originally a small terminal built to serve BA and domestic traffic and was named "Terminal 1 – British Airways". In the late '90s, BA opened the larger Terminal 3. It was an 'exclusive' terminal for domestic services and BA and their partners really.

However, that all changed when BA eradicated most of their Manchester network - most of which was sold to Flybe, with GB Airways (a BA franchise) being sold to easyJet. It's the only terminal to have a domestic UK arrivals lounge with no customs or immigration facilities.

So, nowadays it has turned from an 'exclusive' terminal into a regular one with a whole mix of airlines. It might be an idea to link the terminals airside, but I don't know the layout that well to know where this could be done.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's the only terminal to have a domestic UK arrivals lounge with no customs or immigration facilities....So, nowadays it has turned from an 'exclusive' terminal into a regular one with a whole mix of airlines.

A point well made.

 

[lookingforit35]

I don't think it makes a difference really, they are closely linked landside and I am of the opinion that smaller terminals are better for passengers.

Terminal 3 has an interesting history; it was originally a small terminal built to serve BA and domestic traffic and was named "Terminal 1 – British Airways". In the late '90s, BA opened the larger Terminal 3. It was an 'exclusive' terminal for domestic services and BA and their partners really.

However, that all changed when BA eradicated most of their Manchester network - most of which was sold to Flybe, with GB Airways (a BA franchise) being sold to easyJet. It's the only terminal to have a domestic UK arrivals lounge with no customs or immigration facilities.

So, nowadays it has turned from an 'exclusive' terminal into a regular one with a whole mix of airlines. It might be an idea to link the terminals airside, but I don't know the layout that well to know where this could be done.

I used to fly from LGW to MAN about twice a week for five years on BA, sometimes from LHR.

Of course everything changes, but my heart sinks on the odd occassions I do so now. Understandably the BA business lounge was (physically) divided in two as capacity is no longer needed but I do think that aesthetically it looks awful as the glass dome effect is spoiled. And the terrible route through security down the long winding corridor is indeed pretty poor, since the food court became the security channels. Not to mention the requirement to go out into the rain and cold to walk to the railway station instead of walking through T1!!

I suppose it's a case of looking back through rose tinted glasses. But I cannot think of one aspect of T3 that has changed for the better from the days of a light, airy place to pass through. The awful airside smoking area disappeared some time ago, but then bizarrely the views out were blocked by a Boots, adding to the cramped feel.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Was a laugh when GSM (Fly GlobeSpan) went bankrupt, they owed MAG a shed tonne of money so they impounded one of GSM's aircraft until it was paid... (Yes, really!)

Not as much fun (morbid fun) as when XL went bust, their check in was right next to my shop the morning they went bust... *sniggers*

Asking me for advice like, "Will the flight run?", and "What would you do?"

My answer usually being, "Go home..."

I used to work at T2 - where did you work?

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[WestCoast]

I used to fly from LGW to MAN about twice a week for five years on BA, sometimes from LHR.

Of course everything changes, but my heart sinks on the odd occassions I do so now. Understandably the BA business lounge was (physically) divided in two as capacity is no longer needed but I do think that aesthetically it looks awful as the glass dome effect is spoiled. And the terrible route through security down the long winding corridor is indeed pretty poor, since the food court became the security channels. Not to mention the requirement to go out into the rain and cold to walk to the railway station instead of walking through T1!!

I suppose it's a case of looking back through rose tinted glasses. But I cannot think of one aspect of T3 that has changed for the better from the days of a light, airy place to pass through. The awful airside smoking area disappeared some time ago, but then bizarrely the views out were blocked by a Boots, adding to the cramped feel.

I can completely see where you're coming from. The reason why it's changed, I believe, is that it's no longer influenced by BA. It serves a whole mix of airlines, even Ryanair will be joining the carriers there soon (they wanted shorter taxi times), so therefore it needs to cater for leisure passengers off to Malaga (for example) as well as core domestic travellers and premium passengers. However, I agree, it's a bit of a mess in terms of layout, the route from the relocated security area to the departures lounge is abysmal.

I don't think it was designed to handle the volume and type of traffic that it now does. I thought MAG were trying to make the terminals organised by groups of carriers (in line with alliances and/or type of carrier) by moving KLM/Air France to T3 and easyJet to T1, however they reverse this by moving Ryanair to T3 (as they wish)!

Of course, the low cost airlines do indeed serve many business travellers but I can't help thinking that they are not suited to T3.

 

[lookingforit35]

I can completely see where you're coming from. The reason why it's changed, I believe, is that it's no longer influenced by BA. It serves a whole mix of airlines, even Ryanair will be joining the carriers there soon (they wanted shorter taxi times), so therefore it needs to cater for leisure passengers off to Malaga (for example) as well as core domestic travellers and premium passengers. However, I agree, it's a bit of a mess in terms of layout, the route from the relocated security area to the departures lounge is abysmal.

I don't think it was designed to handle the volume and type of traffic that it now does. I thought MAG were trying to make the terminals organised by groups of carriers (in line with alliances and/or type of carrier) by moving KLM/Air France to T3 and easyJet to T1, however they reverse this by moving Ryanair to T3 (as they wish)!

Of course, the low cost airlines do indeed serve many business travellers but I can't help thinking that they are not suited to T3.

And done on the cheap too. You can still see the different flooring where the hot buffet stood in what is now security! And the former security area was a barren emptiness other than some random seating dumped in it last time I was there.

A few pounds spent on the conversion work would have made a lot of difference. Most modern buildings are concrete shells so interior walls are relatively easy to relocate etc. But I suppose it's too late for T3 now.

 

[Nym]

I used to work at T2 - where did you work?

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Ahhh, that would be telling ya see

 

[BananaRepublic]

Back to the original topic....

That puts it behind Manchester airport in northern England, where the total rose 6.5 percent to 18.8 million, according to a statement last week.

Manchester's 18.8 million is still way behind the passenger numbers handled in the mid 2000's (22.4 million in 2006), but at least it marks a change in fortune from the 10 year low figure of 2010.


.

 

[BuhSnarf]

Ahhh, that would be telling ya see

Lol okay!

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