Manchester Airport unveils next stage of £1.3bn transformation including champagne bar and food hall

More flights to new destinations are on the horizon as Manchester Airport unveils a key milestone in its ongoing transformation.

The first phase of a £1.3billion transformation saw Terminal 2 more than double in size, with work starting on the second phase in January last year.

That's focusing on the east side of T2, which is being brought in line with the west side and will feature 27 new shops, bars and restaurants, including a high street-style shopping area, a champagne bar and a food hall.

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The second phase will see the original building upgraded with a second security hall and a new-look, extended departure lounge, along with reconfigurations of the airfield to make operations more efficient. Upon completion in 2025, over 70 per cent of all passengers will use the expanded T2, with Terminal 1 then closing.

Now the airport has announced it's entered a crucial stage in the latest phase of work - meaning it will be able to compete with the top European airports. The airfield is being redesigned in a move the airport said would allow 'significantly more aircraft movements'. A new pier at Terminal 2 is also being constructed to increase the capacity of the airport.

"Taken together, the two innovations will help Manchester Airport add more destinations in the future – on top of the 200 we already serve – and provide greater choice and value for our passengers," said a spokesperson.

"It already offers more than 200 destinations and the extra capacity and space for more modern planes will let it increase that number."

The changes to the airfield to boost its capacity will allow the world's biggest passenger planes