£50 million airport terminal is relaunched An airport terminal which had a £50million revamp based on psychologists’ recommendations has been relaunched. Manchester Airport’s Terminal One was redesigned and renovated over two years.
The move is to improve passenger flow and create one of the UK’s largest airside shopping and catering facilities. During the roject, officials consulted with psychologists who observed travellers’ body language and monitored comments to identify “stress points” and areas which could be improved.
A £14m, 14-lane security area has been installed to reduce queuing times, and retailers have spent almost £15 million kitting out 52 shop units. A new spa and VIP area have also been constructed to offer a more luxurious experience.
Andrew Cornish, managing director of Manchester Airport, said that despite some setbacks in the revamp process, the newly refurbished airport had a “bright future” ahead of it.
“Our terminal redesigns have had to withstand the test of time, with the liquid ban and the terrorist attack on Glasgow Airport in 2007 meaning we had to take them back to the drawing board several times.”
Terminal One was opened in 1962 and now handles over 11 million passengers every year. In addition to the changes launched today, a new Emirates lounge, boarding area and gates are to be added to the terminal in preparation for Airbus A380 flights which are expected to begin operating within the next two years.