Manchester Airport starts on airfield overhaul

Work has begun on a new taxiway at Manchester Airport as part of its £1bn transformation programme.

The building of Taxiway Delta Echo signals the start of the reconfiguration of the airfield at the UK’s third largest airport, to help feed the redeveloped Terminal 2.

Galliford Try will deliver the taxiway works as part of the Airfield phase two design & build contract awarded in December 2017. Jacobs are providing MAG with client project and programme management support services for the full airfield scope of the transformation programme.

The works will see 860,000 sq ft of new taxiway and apron and 16 miles of cabling installed with the aim of all excavated material being diverted from landfill throughout. The work is due to be completed by July 2020.

Once finished, it will improve aircraft access to the new terminal, leading to reduced taxi times and reducing the amount of fuel burnt. The works will be the biggest changes to the airfield since the second runway became operational in 2001.

Andrew Cowan, chief executive of Manchester Airport, said: “It’s great to see the start of work for the reconfiguration of our taxiways, which will help to unlock the airfield capacity that will allow the airport to continue to grow.

“It’s another exciting milestone alongside the works already happening on the terminal building. Our airline customers will see taxi times reduced which will ultimately improve the experience for our 28m passengers.”

MAG said that the first passenger pier will open in April 2019 with the redeveloped terminal building set to open in 2020.