Manchester Airport Grows Larger

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s

Routes and passenger numbers continued to grow, 1977 saw the first scheduled Boeing 747 New York Manchester service and a year later there were 15 scheduled airlines operating to 37 destinations worldwide.

In 1982 HRH Princess Anne opened a further runway extension to 3,048 metres(10,000 feet). The continued growth required terminal expansion and in 1989 a new domestic terminal eventually named Terminal 3 (T3) was opened by Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Aviation Viewing Park opened in 1992 and a year later a second terminal (T2) was opened by HRH Duke of Edinburgh, doubling the airport's terminal capacity to around 20 million passengers a year. A new airport rail station was also opened in May of 1993, providing direct links to towns and cities across the North of England.

By 1995, annual passenger numbers had reached 15 million thereby tripling the forecast of 1974, only 20 years earlier. With increasing passengers, a second runway was approved in 1997, the location of which meant that the old WW2 hangars were demolished. The new runway opened in 2001, making Manchester Airport and Heathrow the only UK airports to each have two full-length runways.

Ten years after the viewing park opened in 2003 a special exhibit arrived, the recently retired Concorde G-BOAC which by 2008 was housed in its own building the Concorde Conference Centre.

In 2013 a new 60 metres tall control tower opened. It is the second tallest in the UK after Heathrow. With passenger numbers forecast to grow further, in 2015 the Airport unveiled a 10 year transformation programme the heart of which doubles the capacity of T2 and improves passenger experience. The £1.3 billion programme ensures Manchester solidifies its place as the UK's global gateway in the North.

(Colour Photograph Top showing) - Twin Full Length Runways.

(Colour Photograph Bottom showing) - Concorde G-BOAC Arrives in 2003.