Swissport handles Concorde - With care
Swissport has stepped in to help Manchester Airport relocate the iconic centrepiece of the Visitor’s Park - Concorde G-BOAC - to allow the £1 million redevelopment of the area to create a new visitor centre and super hangar gets underway.
“Alpha Charlie” was the flagship of the British Airways fleet until her retirement and final flight on 31 October from Heathrow to Manchester. She took up her spot as a central attraction at the Aviation Viewing Park on October 31st 2003, receiving over 250,000 visitors a year.
The move of Concorde was no small task and Swissport provided their services in the tugging of the 96 tonne plane into its short-term position just 17 metres away.
The development will also include a corporate hospitality suite capable of housing up to 75 delegates, an education centre for school tours, an aviation exhibition and also a glass walled visitor restaurant with extensive views of Manchester Airport’s busy runways.
Manchester Airport’s Operations Director Andrew Holl said of the move: “I am delighted that plans are getting underway to re-home this important piece of aviation history. Concorde is very close to our hearts here at Manchester Airport and the thousands of visitors feel passionately about her care for the future which this new hangar will offer.”
Ian Barrie, Operations Director at Swissport said: “I am very grateful to our expert Manchester team who have helped move this important part of aviation history with such care. We are pleased to help Manchester Airports Group with their exciting redevelopment plans."
“Alpha Charlie” was the flagship of the British Airways fleet until her retirement and final flight on 31 October from Heathrow to Manchester. She took up her spot as a central attraction at the Aviation Viewing Park on October 31st 2003, receiving over 250,000 visitors a year.
The move of Concorde was no small task and Swissport provided their services in the tugging of the 96 tonne plane into its short-term position just 17 metres away.
The development will also include a corporate hospitality suite capable of housing up to 75 delegates, an education centre for school tours, an aviation exhibition and also a glass walled visitor restaurant with extensive views of Manchester Airport’s busy runways.
Manchester Airport’s Operations Director Andrew Holl said of the move: “I am delighted that plans are getting underway to re-home this important piece of aviation history. Concorde is very close to our hearts here at Manchester Airport and the thousands of visitors feel passionately about her care for the future which this new hangar will offer.”
Ian Barrie, Operations Director at Swissport said: “I am very grateful to our expert Manchester team who have helped move this important part of aviation history with such care. We are pleased to help Manchester Airports Group with their exciting redevelopment plans."
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