Manchester Airport – part of Manchester Airports Group (a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub and a Partner of the FTE World Ancillary & Retailing Working Group) – has opened a new section of its redeveloped Terminal 2 departure lounge. This includes six new shops and eateries, joining an already extensive array of options for travellers.
LEGO®, Rituals and Pandora are opening their first units at Manchester Airport, and new options for those wanting to grab a bite to eat or drink before they catch their flight include Starbucks, Upper Crust, and Joe & The Juice.
“It’s wonderful to see more of our new-look Terminal 2 opening to the public, further enhancing the world-class passenger experience that this terminal offers,” said Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director, Manchester Airport. “We have a busy few months ahead of us as we finish this transformative 10-year project. We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the world, and these new facilities will allow them to travel in the style befitting a major international hub, while also creating a striking first impression for visitors to our region.”
The opening is the latest development in the 10-year, £1.3 billion transformation of Terminal 2, more than doubling the terminal’s size and aiming to create a world-class passenger experience. An extension to the terminal opened in 2021, and the airport is now in the final stages of overhauling the original Terminal 2 building to bring it up to the same standard as the extension, mirroring the modern look and feel.
More than 70 per cent of the airport’s passengers will use the new facilities and Terminal 1 is set to close when the project is completed later this year. Further shops and restaurants are expected to open later this year, including Chanel, Grindsmith by WHSmith, a Fever Tree cocktail and champagne bar, and the Great Northern Market – a food court with a selection of street food options.
“We’re pleased to welcome so many exciting brands to our new-look Terminal 2,” said Richard Jackson, Retail Director, Manchester Airport. “These brands are household names and leaders within their markets, with a reputation for quality, which makes them a perfect fit for the experience we are creating here. I look forward to working with them and with the brands due to open units later this year, as we put the finishing touches to the terminal.”
Stuart Buchanan, Chief Property and Business Development Officer, SSP UK & Ireland, commented: “We’re excited to be opening our Upper Crust and Starbucks units within the new Terminal 2, building our relationship with Manchester Airport having worked with them for over two decades. The new terminal will transform passenger experiences and we are confident that a visit to our outlets before take-off will quickly become the best part of the journey.”
Peter Newbould, CEO, Lagardère Travel Retail UK & Ireland, said: “We’re proud to continue growing our partnership with LEGO® Travel Retail in the UK with this latest opening at Manchester Airport. This store brings an interactive, family-friendly experience to Terminal 2 and celebrates the city’s character in a way that’s both playful and memorable. It’s another great example of how we’re bringing global brands to life in travel retail environments.”
Hear more from Manchester Airports Group at FTE Global – the “CES of Aviation” taking place in Long Beach, California, on 9 to 11 September 2025. Mike Hardaker, Chief Asset & Development Officer, Manchester Airports Group, is participating in a session focused on ‘The future of business & commercial strategies for airports – are we at the threshold of airports evolving to become digital companies that run experiential businesses, and what would the new business models and organisational structures be behind that?’
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