Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to cancel the Manchester leg of HS2 has prompted Manchester Airport to downsize its projected growth from 60 million passengers a year by 2040 to 50 million.

Airport bosses had hoped connections with HS2 and a new fast line to Liverpool as part of the Northern Powerhouse Rail project would allow the travel gateway to more than double in size and make it the North’s answer to Heathrow. According to its most recent update, Manchester Airport had passenger numbers of just over 28 million in the 12 months to December.

But October’s decision to cancel plans for dedicated new lines that would have extended HS2 services north from the West Midlands directly into Manchester’s Piccadilly Station and connected with the West Coast Main Line at Crewe has forced a rethink at operator Manchester Airports Group.