Projects

Transforming the passenger experience with Manchester Airports Group

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) is the largest UK airport group that owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports. We are proud to continue to make a significant contribution to MAG’s investment decisions and business-critical objectives.

Key information

Client MAG

Location United Kingdom

Project type Infrastructure

Services Cost and commercial management, Digital, Project management

Project timeline 2010 - Ongoing

Contact

David Unwin

Director

Delivering expert advice for over 30 years

Our long-term involvement with MAG has given us valuable insight into their objectives and operations and has facilitated a relationship grounded in collaborative working and knowledge-sharing. In January 2020, we were appointed to Phase 2 of MAG’s £440m Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), as well as re-appointed to MAG’s Professional Consultancy Services framework.

The £1.3bn MAN-TP was first announced in 2015 - a 10-year vision to revolutionise the customer experience at Manchester Airport and unlock the potential of its two runways.

Phase 1, completed in 2020, saw Terminal 2 more than double in size, while Phase 2 will complete its transformation. Phase 2 aims to improve all stages of the passenger journey, from check-in to baggage reclaim, as well as upgrading the airfield to cater for next-generation aircraft. Upon completion, around 70 percent of passengers will use the expanded Terminal 2.

Project story

Supporting group-wide development

In addition to supporting the Manchester Transformation Programme, we are providing project management services in connection with MAG’s group-wide future security programme and a range of capital projects to both replace and renew fixed assets.

Our work with MAG involves contributing to the development of processes which optimise operational capability across MAG’s airports. This is achieved by deploying advisors who seamlessly integrate into MAG’s team structures and have the experience to deliver the most effective solutions.

Additional work we have been commissioned for include the administration of a group-wide digital PMO reporting package, and supporting the establishment and delivery of a centralised net-zero programme.

We also provided the project management support in connection with MAG’s Future Airspace project for Manchester and East Midlands responding to the UK Government Airspace modernisation programme. Our work will contribute to MAG achieving net-zero carbon by 2038, 12 years ahead of the 2050 UK aviation emissions target.

Unlocking economic growth for Northern England

As the largest UK-owned airport operator, MAG contributed approximately £8bn in 2019-2020 to the UK economy. More than sixty-million passengers travelled through its aviation hubs during the 2024 fiscal year. The group directly employs 7,000 people and supports more than 40,000 jobs across the supply chain.

Investment in Manchester Airport through the MAN-TP and Future Security processes will transform the passenger experience at the UK’s third-largest airport, and is predicted to create thousands of jobs, unlocking billions of pounds of economic value for northern England.

MAN-TP created approximately 500 jobs during the construction phase, with a predicted extra 16,400 jobs being generated by 2040 as a result of the economic activity stimulated by the expansion of the airport and its route network.