Manchester Airport has outlined its vision how it can help drive the creation of Northern Powerhouse, as managing director Ken O’Toole unveiled a new fly-through video showing how the airport will look in ten years following a £1 billion investment.

Subject to securing planning permission, it will see a state-of-the-art terminal building created through the expansion of the airport’s existing Terminal Two building.

O’Toole said the project will give the whole of the North the “global gateway it deserves”.

He added his support to efforts to create a Northern Powerhouse, saying: “It is 18 months since the Northern Powerhouse phrase was first coined by chancellor - and north west MP - George Osborne and some good progress has been made.

“The importance of a strong and vibrant Northern economy is more widely acknowledged than ever before and there can be no doubt there is increased recognition around the world that the North is both an attractive place to visit and to do business with.”

O’Toole said Manchester Airport now has services to more than 210 destinations, with direct flights to Beijing starting with Hainan Airlines in June.

It will boost the UK economy by £250m, he added.

But he said there are things government can do to fully unlock the potential of the Northern economy.

O’Toole said it was long haul services that are key to long term growth in the UK but south-east airports are currently full.

Watch the video below: