It’s been a whirlwind year at aether, from announcing in May that we were relaunching the Private Terminal, to finally opening our doors to guests in November. Here we round up our incredible 2024 and everything we’ve achieved to bring our guests an effortless airport experience.  

Six months to prepare 

Between announcing the launch of aether and opening our doors, we had just six months to get ready. That was six months to give the Private Terminal building a complete glow-up; to find and prepare our team of colleagues; to complete training on everything from security protocols to the airfield routes; to perfect the Dining Experience by Adam Reid; and to make sure that every little detail, from the tableware to the colleague uniforms, was flawless. 

36 team members 

An integral part of the aether experience is the service provided by our team. Before opening, we needed to recruit and train team members able to ensure that every step of the Private Terminal journey is seamless, from dealing with baggage correctly to making the perfect coffee. aether now has a team of 36 amazing colleagues working tirelessly both behind the scenes and front of house - from security to the kitchen - to make the aether experience effortless. 

Three partnerships 

We knew that to offer a seamless airport experience we needed to carefully choose a range of premium partners  

Three Dining Experiences by Adam Reid 
We have reinvented airport dining with a carefully curated Dining Experience by award-winning Manchester chef Adam Reid. The culinary journey follows a set menu, with a Dining Experience menu for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, bringing our guests the best whatever time they’re travelling. Highlights include malt loaf with beef butter, a hot smoked salmon & scrambled crumpet, and stewed beef cheek.  

A fleet of four BMWs 
We have partnered with BMW to offer guests a seamless transition from aether to their gate. We have a fleet of four BMWs - including the all-electric BMW i7, the seven-seater BMW X7 and the luxury performance BMW XM. Guests can relax and unwind in these chauffeur-driven vehicles, which are waiting to take them to their gate when it’s time to leave.  

Six paintings from CheshirePaint 
We chose local artists CheshirePaint to supply the original artwork for aether, putting the finishing touches to the tranquil sanctuary of the Private Terminal. The blue, white and gold colour palette of the pieces sits perfectly alongside the panoramic runway views to stunning effect. And if guests travelling through aether fall in love with one of the paintings, they can purchase it to enjoy at home.  

Eight airlines offering checked baggage 

We currently work with eight airlines to allow guests to enjoy the aether experience while departing with checked baggage: British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hainan Airlines, SAS, Turkish Airlines and Virgin Atlantic. Guests with cabin baggage can travel through aether to catch any flight departing from Manchester Airport.  

3 local suppliers 

At aether, we proudly champion local produce in our Dining Experience by Adam Reid. We have chosen three local suppliers to help bring the menu to life: Pollen, Chorlton Cheesemongers and Cheshire Smokehouse.  

Pollen bakery and café is a Manchester institution and was recently crowned one of the best places to eat in Europe. Several of Pollen’s iconic offerings feature in the Dining Experience by Adam Reid, including their sourdough and potato bun.  

Among other delicacies, Chorlton Cheesemongers supplies the award-winning Mrs Kirkham’s cheese, while family-owned farm Cheshire Smokehouse supplies a number of staple ingredients.

Well over a hundred guests each week

Since opening our doors on November 4, well over a hundred guests each week have arrived to enjoy the seamless aether experience. That’s hundreds of guests who’ve enjoyed flawless service and stunning panoramic runway views, before being chauffeur-driven to their gate in one of our luxurious BWMs.  

If you’d like to experience aether next time you fly from Manchester Airport, pre-book your place now.