www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk – 27 JUN 2018
This year is a significant year for us all at Manchester Airport as we mark 80 years since the airport opened, and our birthday celebrations have already begun.
We recently enjoyed being the official partner of Manchester Day with a whole host of our colleagues hitting the streets for the parade with our birthday float, including, of course, a version of our famous chandeliers.
Earlier this week I was pleased to unveil a birthday video we’ve created in collaboration with Mancunian poet, Tony Walsh. Tony’s poem, and the accompanying video, do a wonderful job of showcasing how the airport has evolved over the last eight decades, and includes memories from colleagues, passengers and members of the public.
It’s been great to hear the memories and see the photos of colleagues past and present, and even passengers who remember the very early days of the airport.
As we turn 80, the milestone provides a great opportunity to look to the future.
As you will all be aware, our £1billion Manchester Airport Transformation Programme is well underway and hopefully you will have seen the stunning aerial footage of the construction site in the Time Flies film. It really showcases the size and scale of what we are doing.
MAN-TP will provide millions of passengers and airlines with facilities that combine state of the art services with excellent customer service. With the new development complete, we will be able to grow alongside a thriving northern economy to handle 45 million passengers a year, an increase of almost 20 million compared to today.
That also means jobs being created for the region and local firms being boosted as a result of working on the scheme. If you’re passing through, look over to T2 and you’ll see the new terminal taking shape.
There’s still lots to come as our 80th year progresses. We’re joining forces with the Bee in the City campaign on Friday, taking the wraps off a giant bee in our Ground Transport Interchange.
The bee will have a theme of ’80 years around the world’ representing our extensive route network and will be one of the many bees that eventually go on auction to raise money for the I Love Manchester fund.