Astra Group completes delivery of Manchester Airport wayfinding contract
Image courtesy Astra Group
The brief, to design, manufacture and install new signage throughout the international airport’s new Terminal 2 and make traveller navigation easier and more efficient, saw a significant number of products delivered, spanning the airport approach, forecourt, check in and departure desks and pier.
The activity forms part of Manchester Airport Group’s £1.3 billion transformation of the UK’s third largest airport into a key global gateway, increasing the number of passengers passing through the modern transport hub from an average of 2,300 per hour to an impressive 7,000.
The wayfinding project, delivered by Astra Group in collaboration with contractors MACE Group and BAM Construction, took two years to complete (including design, production and installation) and saw an extensive suite of products created to ensure passengers enjoy a seamless journey. These include external gate signage, wall-mounted maps, sophisticated flight information displays, digital totems, and an extensive network of internal directional signs, room directories, and lift directories.
Speaking on the completion of the work, Paul Dyke, Group Sales Director at Astra Group, said: “Terminals are dynamic, high-pressure environments and intuitive wayfinding is essential to ensure passengers move confidently and comfortably through the space. The most successful wayfinding solutions are those that feel effortless - where signage forms part of a coherent family of elements and sits seamlessly within the architectural vision.
“The priority throughout was to create a wayfinding experience that genuinely supports passengers - reducing stress, improving accessibility and contributing to a safe, intuitive journey. At the same time, the scheme plays an important role in reinforcing a strong sense of brand and place, while supporting the terminal’s wider commercial objectives.”
Already earning industry-wide acclaim, the new terminal’s wayfinding scheme, designed, produced and installed by Astra Group, was named Wayfinding Scheme of the Year at the prestigious Sign Industry Awards 2026.
The event saw the major transport hub and signage provider affirm its success in delivering a clear, cohesive and intuitive passenger experience within a complex architectural setting.
Adding on the accolade, Dyke said: “This was a complex programme with significant technical challenges, requiring an innovative and carefully coordinated approach to ensure full ASIAD compliance while aligning with the wider vision for the space.
“We are grateful for the collaborative approach taken by Manchester Airports Group, Mace Group and BAM Construction throughout the programme. Delivering a project of this scale demanded close partnership and shared commitment, and we’re extremely pleased with the result achieved together. To see this work recognised by our industry peers and recognised as The Sign Industry Awards’ Wayfinding Scheme of the Year is a proud moment for all involved.”
The project’s completion comes ahead of PTE World Expo at London Excel next week (17th-19th March), the international trade show and conference dedicated to airport design, development, operations and passenger experience, where Astra Group will showcase the latest advancements in traditional, digital and immersive ASIAD approved signage for airports and major transport hubs.
