| 1910 | Although not necessarily part of the history of early Manchester Airport, Louis Paulhan landed a biplane in a field near Burnage. He won the 10,000 pound Daily Mail prize for being the first man to fly from London to Manchester.
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| 1919 | Still not necessarily a part of the Manchester Airport history, Britain's first ever scheduled air service began at a private air strip near Manchester and flew to Birkdale Sands in Southport and on to South Shore at Blackpool.
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| 1926 | Several Manchester founding fathers felt the need to establish a permanent airport for the city. Thus, the first Manchester Airport was begun.
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| 1929 | The first choice of a site for the airport was at Barton. However, they soon learned that it became too wet during heavy rains. Thus, they began the search again for a replacement.
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| 1934 | Manchester Corporation became aware of Fairey Aviation's airfield which was in conjunction with the company's factory for making aircraft. It became a commercial airport within four years. However, it became used more for military use than commercial. The place was called Ringway.
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| 1934 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines began discussions about flying to Manchester.
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| 1940-1945 | During the war, 600,000 glider pilots and parachutists used the airfield. Another plane maker, A.V. Roe set up a factory beside Fairey's factory, making some of the most famous of military aircraft.
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| 1946 | The first post-war flight was from Le Bourget to Manchester.
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| 1949 | Some of the military area of the airport became used for commercial purposes.
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| 1951 | The runway was extended by nearly 600 metres to allow larger planes to be handled.
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| 1952 | 24 hours service is begun at Manchester Airport, allowing the airport to serve 163,000 passengers per year.
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| 1953 | Sabena Belgian Airlines introduced the first scheduled service to New York.
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| 1954 | The one millionth passenger since the end of the war came through the airport.
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| 1957 | A 2.7 million pound terminal opened. It is the first airport in Europe to use the pier system in which passengers remain under cover until ready to get on the plane.
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| 1960s | An impressive terminal building with aircraft control facilities, a departure hall, a lengthened runway and a third pier all showed the growth of Manchester Airport.
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| 1974 | An intercontinental pier opened which allows even a Boeing 747 to be handled. The pier features such things as air conditioning, moving sidewalks and waiting lounges. This was the first time that air bridges connect the passengers to the plane.
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| 1980s | The airport was designated as an international gateway for direct, long-haul international flights. Direct rail and motorway links improved the convenience of using the airport. A second international passenger terminal was opened.
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| 1982 | HRH Princess Anne opened the extended runway which now measures 3048 metres.
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| 1986 | Manchester Airport plc was formed. Also, the World Freight Terminal opened.
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| 1988 | The Golden Jubilee of Manchester Airport was celebrated.
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| 1989 | The Princess of Wales opened the airport's domestic terminal which can handle two and a half million passengers per year.
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| 1993 | The Duke of Edinburgh opened Terminal 2, doubling the airport's terminal capacity to around 20 million passengers per year. The railway station was opened the same year, linking Manchester to many cities in Northern England.
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| 1996 | The first budget hotel at the airport was Holiday Inn Garden Court.
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| 1998 | A Radisson Hotel opened at the airport. Also, the dedicated terminal for British Airways and its partners was opened.
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| 2001 | The Manchester Airport completed the purchase of two smaller airports, East Midlands and Bournemouth Airport, making Manchester the second largest airport operator in the UK.
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| 2003 | Manchester Airport won the bid to house one of the Concorde planes. It is displayed at the Aviation Viewing Park.
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