Manchester Airport reveals plan for private terminal
Manchester Airport is aiming to open a new “pay-as-you-use” private terminal later this year next to the Runway Visitor Park, which it claims will be the first of its kind available in the UK.
Working with consultant Jacobs, Manchester Airports Group has released CGIs of the new terminal, which it has dubbed PremiAir.
This will sit separately from the airport’s existing three terminals and will have its own access and secure parking. The private terminal will offer what the airport calls a “premium service”, with prices starting at £50.
Services to be offered include a dedicated passport control service and security, car transfers from the terminal to the plane, a lounge with complimentary food and drink, and faster baggage processing.
The existing Runway Visitor Park, which sits next to the proposed terminal, will remain unchanged, and the new terminal is scheduled to welcome its first passengers in mid-2019.
MAG claims the “pay-as-you-use” model for PremiAir will be the first of its kind in the country, with other private facilities restricted to business and first class customers.
Andrew Harrison, chief executive of airport services at MAG, said: “By introducing PremiAir, we’re offering something unique for all of our passengers, and creating a completely new way to travel.
““It is something a large number of customers have been telling us for some time they would be interested in and we hope the services it will offer will appeal to a wide range of passengers, whether they are travelling for business, want to mark a special occasion or just want to add something different to their experience.
“The launch of PremiAir at Manchester Airport is the beginning of an exciting new project for MAG and we plan to assess opportunities to introduce it at other airport sites in the future.”
Ross Powell, director of operations at Jacobs added: “We have worked hard with the Airport to create a simple yet elegant design, utilising natural materials, full height glass and visual connection to the airfield to offer the guest a warm, relaxing and personalised environment.”
I mean they could just sort their normal terminals out first…
By Daveboi
Doesn’t this just reinforce the “us and them” class divide?
By Proletariat
You’ve got to admire Manchester Airport’s plan…make the travel experience so bad that people will pay through the nose to avoid it…then sell someone the land to do it properly…simples!
By richard
Nail. On. The. Head by Daveboi.
Manchester Airport is a now an embarrassment. Dirty, poor facilities & maintenance, lifts/stairs/escalators always broken, crappy & expensive food offer and by far the rudest & most unpleasant security experience with the longest queues of any airport I travel through weekly in Europe. Plus the pick-up/drop-off fiasco. V happy that it soon won’t be my home-base airport!
By MancLad
Good marketers segment the market, and this is an underserved segment with strong demographics, it’s what strong commercial organisations do, we see low, mid, massafluent and premium segments all markets, why not airports.
By Rich X
Dear Rich X: You are right. Commercial, unless regulated, means wealth extraction not wealth creation. When a natural monopoly, like an airport, is not a cost-covering public utility but a profit-maximizing commercial business, wealth will be extracted. They will be charging private drivers for dropping off their family and friends next. Mark my words.
By James Yates
Reject the farce. Just use JLA.
By Liver fella
Liver fella – not everyone wants to go to Benidorm and Malaga. Manchester is a proper airport which offers flights around the world
By Anonymous
JLA owned by Peel started all this extra charging fastrack security, charges for drop off, MIA has only followed Peel’s example as they are clearly making a pretty penny from these charges.
By MD
When in my previous comment I say “regulated” I do of course mean “regulated by the so–called market”. Although physically natural monopolies or oligoplies like a irports, power, water, gas, and others cannot operate in a market. Even building land is not a real market you can’t”perfect marketSorry for being a clever clogs.
By James Yates
Does this mean that the runway visitor park will be relegated to a not fit for purpose area, the same as every other UK airport?
By Peter Bates