Manchester Airport opens upgraded departure lounge

"Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric" of the new terminal, says airport boss Chris Woodroofe

Manchester Airport has unveiled the newly renovated departure lounge at Terminal 2 to the public.

The latest overhaul is part of the £1.3bn transformation of the airport, which should more than double the capacity of Terminal 2.

Current work will bring the original Terminal 2 building up to date, following the opening of a state-of-the art extension in 2021.

More than 70% of the airport's passengers will use the new facilities, with Terminal 1 set to close when the project is completed later this year.

The Laxton family were the first through the doors on Monday morning

Once the upgrade is competed, the terminal will include 13 new flexible aircraft stands and boarding gates.

One chandelier-lit passageway, which links the departure lounge with the security hall, takes its inspiration from the traditional Venetian chandeliers used to light the airport in the 1980s and '90s.

Rituals, Pandora, and Joe and the Juice among outlets to have already opened for business at the terminal, with further shops and restaurants expected to open later this year - including a champagne bar and food court.

Chris Woodroofe, managing director of Manchester Airport, said: "These new facilities will allow [passengers] to travel in the style befitting a major international hub, while also creating a striking first impression for visitors to our region.

"Manchester and the North are woven through the fabric of this terminal building, from the worker bee and honeycomb motif in the terminal's design, to the many Northern brands operating shops and restaurants in our departure lounge."