New tram link to Manchester Airport Terminal 2 under consideration

Manchester Airport is approaching a significant milestone as its £1.3bn transformation of Terminal 2 nears completion after a decade of work.

The expanded terminal, which has already unveiled a larger security hall and a new departures lounge featuring a boutique-style retail area, is now in its final stages. Once fully complete, the redevelopment is expected to increase the airport’s capacity to 40 million passengers a year by 2030, up from around 32 million currently.

To support this growth, new public transport infrastructure is now being explored, including the possibility of a dedicated Metrolink stop at Terminal 2.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is considering adding a stop on a proposed “Western leg” extension of the existing tram line. Under the plans, trams would continue past the current Manchester Airport rail and tram station, cross the M56 and serve Terminal 2 before reconnecting with the network at Roundthorn.

The proposal is outlined in TfGM’s Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2050, which notes that following completion of the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme in 2025, the majority of flights will operate from Terminal 2.

No final decision has yet been made on whether the additional tram stop will proceed.

A spokesperson for Manchester Airport said that as passenger numbers and staff levels continue to grow, it is essential that transport connections remain “convenient, fast, affordable and able to meet that demand”.

They added that improved connectivity would help ensure the economic benefits of the airport’s expanding route network are shared more widely, and confirmed the airport is working closely with TfGM, Manchester City Council and transport operators on plans covering rail, the Bee Network, coach services and active travel.