Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham attended the airport to mark the opening of AeroZone, which was delivered as part of the airport’s £1bn transformation programme.
He was joined by Manchester Airport’s managing director Karen Smart and 15 pupils from Outwood Primary School in Heald Green, who were given a tour of the new facility.
AeroZone, which offers a mix of classroom space and interactive zones, is expected to welcome more than 5,000 children and young people aged between four and 18 every year, with curriculum-linked sessions focused on the range of careers available in aviation.
The design of the centre is influenced by aviation, boasting a cabin with real seats and a cockpit, complete with a flight simulator.
A dedicated “careers wall” showcases the wide range of careers available in aviation, and information and advice about how to access them.
Smart said AeroZone provides the airport with an "on-site hub" for its educational outreach work, and provides schoolchildren with a "state-of-the-art" facility.
"We are delighted to be able to open this fantastic facility at long last, having originally planned to open it in 2020 before the pandemic made that unviable," she added.
The facility is being delivered as part of Manchester Airport’s £1bn transformation programme, which also included the opening of its newly-expanded terminal two in July last year.
Meanwhile, Burnham said initiatives such as this are "vitally important" in providing Manchester’s young people with a "clear pathway" towards a "rewarding" career.
"It was a pleasure to join Karen Smart and the pupils from Outwood Primary School for the opening of this wonderful facility today," he added.
"I am sure that a visit to AeroZone will be an eye-opener for the young people who experience it, and I am glad to see Manchester Airport, as a major employer in this region, proactively highlighting the opportunities available here and encouraging the next generation to be ambitious."
