Still, the greater role of the airport in Britain means that airport management has more of a role in allotting space among such competing entities as airlines, ground agents and retailers. The terminal also boasts a communications system that allows airlines to communicate with their mainframe computers through a piece of equipment on the desk. Manchester is also generating its own power for the new terminal. The generator produces electricity, and the resultant heat provides the terminal with heating and cooling. The new Manchester terminal also features many retail outlets.
Retail is important at British airports.
The commercial services and facilities help to keep the charges to airlines down. Retail is also important at Frankfurt. Payne noted that rentals and concessions are important revenue sources. He said the restricted shopping hours in Germany make the airport shops, with their longer hours and weekend openings, attractive both to local residents and the 55,000-plus people who work at the airport. The construction of the new terminal at Frankfurt is part of a long-range expansion program begun in 1989 called Airport 2000.