Following an announcement made by MAG CEO Charlie Cornish last week regarding the company’s response to a dramatic slump in passenger traffic as a result of Covid-19, Manchester Airport has confirmed it has consolidated all of its remaining flights and passengers into Terminal 1 and has suspended flights to and from Terminal 2 and 3, effective today (25 March).

Dufry has told TRBusiness that it has shut its operations in both Terminal 2 and 3 as part of the airport’s decision to consolidate flights.

Duty free shops at Terminal 1 have also closed and the click and collect service has been suspended.

The travel retailer was unable to confirm when its operations would recommence. A Dufry spokesperson said: “We are ready and look forward to best serve travellers again, as soon as operations resume.”

In Terminal 1, WHSmith (airside and landside), Boots (airside and landside) and Spar (landside) remain open.

‘PRESERVING GROUP RESOURCES’

Commenting on the shift of operations to T1, an airport spokesperson said: “Like all airports across the world, Manchester Airport has experienced a significant fall in passenger volumes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Given this reduction in departing and arriving flights, and the likelihood traffic will decline further, we have taken the decision to work towards operating from a single terminal.”

“Like all airports across the world, Manchester Airport has experienced a significant fall in passenger volumes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said an airport spokesperson.

“Given this reduction in departing and arriving flights, and the likelihood traffic will decline further, we have taken the decision to work towards operating from a single terminal.”

TRBusiness understands that the opening of Manchester Airport’s new Terminal 2 has now been delayed. Originally scheduled for 1 July, the opening will now take place later on this year. However, the date has not yet been confirmed,

Cornish announced earlier this week that MAG would be consulting with ‘colleagues and unions and introducing measures to reduce costs and preserve the Group’s resources at this critical time’.

“These will include enforced annual leave, reduced working hours, temporary pay cuts and temporary lay-offs.

“Our Executive team is taking a pay cut with immediate effect and we have frozen recruitment and paused capital expenditure. We expect demand to return as the Covid-19 peak passes, but this temporary and dramatic downturn requires us to act now to protect our position at this critical time.

EDINBURGH AIRPORT MAKES SIMILAR ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Over the past decades, the aviation industry has been one of this country’s success stories. We provide vital services to the economy and to regions dependent on air connectivity. Aviation is also essential to some of our most important industries and in forging trading relationships.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and make further announcements on MAG’s operations as the Covid-19 situation develops.”

Edinburgh Airport has also announced it will consolidate its terminal, with certain areas closed and operations centralised.

It will also defer expenditure on some capital projects; power down high consuming energy items [like elements of the baggage system and heating and cooling systems] on parts of the airport that are closed. A number of retailers and food and beverage outlets are also suspending operations, says the airport.