Jacobs’ UK airport contract

A contract for multidisciplinary engineering and selected architectural services has been awarded to US-based Jacobs Engineering Group by Manchester Airports Group (MAG) to support development of the Manchester Airport Transformation Programme in the UK.

The 10-year investment programme is worth more than $1.4 billion (€1.27 billion) and is designed to position the airport to play an even greater role as the UK’s global gateway from the north of the country.

The phased programme includes the delivery of a series of 60 enhancements, as well as significant airside and landside development.

Under the terms of the contract, Jacobs is providing multidisciplinary engineering and selected architectural services for new and upgraded facilities including terminal, piers, airfield, multi-level car parks and surface access facilities.

The planned expansion provides for a significant increase in Manchester Airport’s capacity and is aimed to allow for optimum use of its two existing parallel runways.

MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish said, “Manchester Airport is thriving as a national asset, forming a key component of the UK’s aviation infrastructure at a time when airport capacity in the UK is at a premium.

“At Manchester, we have invested heavily in meeting the needs of our airlines, passengers and local communities, and we recognise now is the right time to deliver a transformation programme that will meet the needs of all our customers and drive further economic growth for both the region and the country.”

Jacobs provides professional services across MAG’s business under its UK framework and supported MAG in delivering its transformational project at Stansted Airport. Jacobs has delivered asset upgrades across Manchester Airport and MAG’s other UK airports for the past six years, and continues to undertake airfield inspections across the UK asset base. Jacobs also helped deliver MAG’s first project outside of the UK – the Escape Lounge in Minneapolis, US.

MAG serves 50 million passengers per annum and handles almost half a million tonnes of air freight every year through its ownership and operation of the airports of London Stansted, Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth airports – all in the UK.