First stage of Manchester airport development opens

Nicole Mezzasalma

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Mezzanine food and bar area is the first stage of a £35m ($72.1m) redevelopment of terminal one

Manchester airport has opened the first phase of its redevelopment of terminal one, a £10m ($20.6m) mezzanine food and bar area. The opening marks the first milestone in the two-year, £35m ($72.1m) project to redevelop the airport’s busiest terminal in response to passenger demand and security restrictions.

Manchester airport commercial director of retail Andrew Harrison said: “The opening of the restaurants and bars marks an exciting stage in the overall development and opens up an area of the airport that has never before been seen by the public. We've worked very hard to get the mix right and we’re expecting more than 5m passengers a year to eat and drink here so it is a very important part of our redevelopment and the future of the airport. These are great restaurants and bars with amazing views over the airfield and we are very pleased to be opening it up to passengers."

The new 25,000sq ft (2,322sq m) Alpha Duty and Tax Free store is scheduled to open in summer 2008, and the whole project—including a new airside shopping mall—is due to open in summer 2009.