International air authorities have approved expansion work at Manchester Airport which will see the world’s biggest airliner become a regular feature over North West England airspace and the creation of new aviation jobs.

A £10M upgrade of facilities and airside infrastructure has made Manchester airport “A380 ready”, in reference to the imminent arrival of the Airbus A380 super-jumbo which will touch down for the first time next month.

The approval makes Manchester one of only 17 airports around the world with the capability to accommodate both the A380 and other Code F aircraft such as freight transports.

Widened taxi-ways, reinforced pavements and a revamped terminal were all given the green light by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Aerodrome Standards Division, putting Manchester on a par with other international hubs such as Heathrow, Sydney Airport and California’s LAX.

Manchester Airport managing director Andrew Cornish said hard work and planning had gone into making Manchester a “Category 10” airport.

“A lot of hard work and planning has gone into the arrival from many people across the business and we’re pleased that as an aerodrome we can accept the newest type of aircraft flying today and that Emirates has recognised Manchester as a world class airport,” he said.

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