As part of an epic 10-year programme to transform its hub, one major UK airport has revealed its latest multi-million pound investment plan to turn around a controversial terminal

One of the UK’s busiest airports has finally revealed plans to transform its terminal which Brits have branded ‘truly abysmal’. Handling around 30 million passengers every year, Manchester Airport is the largest of its kind in the north of England – with around 261 flights leaving the hub daily.

However, last year the airport came bottom in Which?’s league tables, after the consumer brand analysed responses from almost 7,000 members. Manchester Airport’s Terminal 3 received a measly 37 per cent approval rate – with travellers giving it just two stars for queues at the checkin-desk, bag drop, and passport control.

The tiny terminal, which mainly deals with low-cost airlines like Ryanair, only managed to scrape one star for queues at security, level of seating available, staff, and prices in shops, bars and restaurants. On social media, it’s clear the terminal’s reputation isn’t much better.

“Manchester Airport Terminal 3 is the depths of hell,” one person moaned on X (formerly Twitter). Another agreed, scathing: “Manchester Terminal 3, you are awful.” A third added: “Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport is truly abysmal,” while a fourth dubbed it the ‘worst’ terminal in the UK.

However, last week (May 13, 2025) Manchester Airport revealed a huge multi-million pound investment to revamp Terminal 3, as part of its £1.3 billion transformation programme. The mega face-lift, which aims to free-up space and improve the passenger experience, will see a new entrance with ‘more space, easier access and better facilities’.

The terminal will also welcome brand new security equipment and 40 per cent more seating capacity in the departure lounge, along with new shops and food and drink outlets, located both airside and landside. Grabbing a pint or meal pre-flight will also get a whole lot easier, as the terminal revamp will include a new 500-seat bar area with airfield views, as well as a dining area expansion that will see 200 extra seats.

Terminal 3’s expansion will see Terminal 1 (as it currently is) close for good as it merges together. Terminal 2, which has already had a major revamp, will also double its size as part of the 10-year investment plan.

“The work we’ve done in Terminal 2 is there for all to see – and we’ve already won the prestigious Prix Versailles award for its architecture and design. But until now we haven’t talked about our plans for Terminal 3,” said Manchester Airport managing director Chris Woodroofe.

“Moving to a two-terminal airport is giving us a great opportunity to use some of the existing Terminal 1 space to increase the footprint of Terminal 3. We’re doing that as well as making some all round improvements to Terminal 3 – so passengers will enjoy new security technology, more space, more seats, new retail and food and drink, and more. It’s another exciting step towards delivering an even better experience for our passengers and I can’t wait to see it progress.”

External work on the new pier on Terminal 2 – the second pier – has also taken a significant step closer to completion. The piers on the terminal are structures that extend from the main building and are home to the gates where passengers embark and disembark.

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