UK airport’s €1.3bn plan flies in face of Dublin

The owners of Manchester Airport plan to invest £1bn (€1.37bn) over 10 years to upgrade Britain’s third-largest airport and help it compete harder with Heathrow and Irish airports for passengers.

Heathrow, Britain’s biggest airport, is operating at full capacity and is vying with Gatwick for backing for expansion from a commission due to report this summer.

While London’s two biggest airports await the outcome of the three-year commission, Manchester Airport has been expanding its long-haul routes, giving passengers an alternative to travelling south to Heathrow.