Plans for 27 new shops and restaurants for Manchester Airport new Terminal 2 as part of its £1.3bn transformation have been revealed.

The extended departure lounge is expected to feature a food market alongside a boutique high street-style shopping area including a champagne bar and premium brands, artisan cafes and a brasserie.

The plans were revealed as the airport begins the tendering process for more than two dozen new units this month, with a view to announcing the successful applicants by next April.

The news comes after a £440m plan to complete the transformation of Manchester Airport which will see the creation of thousands of jobs and the closure of Terminal 1 was unveiled in January.

The investment is the final phase of the £1.3bn Manchester Airport Transformation Programme (MAN-TP), which was first announced in 2015. The first phase saw Terminal 2 more than double in size. The extended terminal was opened in July 2021, having been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This latest investment will complete the transformation of Terminal 2, leading to 80% of all passengers using it while Terminal 1 will close, 63 years after it was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1962.

MAG said more than 500 jobs will be created in the construction phase, while it said independent analysis shows around 16,400 extra jobs will be generated by 2040 as a result of the economic activity stimulated by the expansion of the airport and its route network.

Richard Jackson, retail director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are well aware that our guests’ holidays start at the airport and we want them to enjoy their time here – whether that means sipping craft beer brewed at the airport in a bar overlooking the airfield, or eating an artisan pizza.

We already have a great range of food and drink options in Terminal Two, with local brands which create a strong sense of place, but we’re looking to build on that with all-new offerings, including a champagne bar and a market hall-style food court.”

He added: “We’re also seeking retail partners who will bring a high-class offering, tailored to the needs of the travelling public.

The first phase of the project saw some exciting brands come on board, but we’re now keen to build on that and provide a more varied and comprehensive retail experience to cater for the tastes of the millions of passengers who will pass through the terminal’s doors.”