Adelaide Airport has unveiled the latest stage of its terminal expansion project, with the new international departures hall and northern retail concourse now open to travellers.
The opening of the new facilities also coincides with the re-opening of several retail stores and dining outlets this week including the Penfolds Wine Bar & Kitchen, Soul Origin and Precinct Kitchen to cater for increasing passenger numbers.
All departing international passengers will now enter the security screening and emigration processing on Level 1 (between ground level and the main concourse and gates on Level 2) via escalators at the northern end of the terminal adjacent Penfolds Wine Bar & Kitchen in the new retail precinct.
The new international departures hall is three times the size of the old facility.
Once passengers complete emigration processing, they will move back up to Level 2 to access the international departure gates.
The new northern retail concourse now provides a direct link between the main security checkpoint and the northern retail precinct and international departures.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Mark Young, said it had been a huge effort by the project team and builders BESIX Watpac to continue construction throughout the pandemic.
“The opening of the new international departures hall is another important milestone and keeps us on track for completion in late 2021,” Mr Young said.
“It has been an incredibly difficult year for the aviation sector, but the silver lining has been that closing the northern end of the terminal due to COVID-19 made it a bit easier for the builder to access the site and continue construction without creating disruptions for passengers.
“The opening of international departures and the northern concourse has coincided with us reopening gates and retail stores at the northern end of the terminal for the first time in nine months.
This week we have welcomed back Penfolds Wine Bar & Kitchen, Precinct Kitchen and Soul Origin, which were all forced to close within a couple of weeks of opening in late February due to COVID-19.”
Mr Young said work was progressing well on the next stages of the expansion project, including the new international arrivals, a common-user premium international lounge, more retail space and a new home for the Vickers Vimy.
The terminal expansion project is the first major terminal development since the current terminal was opened in 2005. The terminal expansion will see a complete refurbishment of retail areas, resulting in a more than 80 per cent increase in the overall size of the terminal’s retail and dining precinct across domestic and international areas.
International upgrades will include a second, longer baggage belt for arrivals, more space for emigration and immigration processing, expanded security screening, a larger duty-free precinct for arrivals and departures, and expanded dining and retail options.
Gate 18 will become a permanent international gate and will be the focus of the improved retail and boarding facilities. Other international gates will continue to utilise Adelaide Airport’s unique swing gate system to allow both international and domestic operations.
Mr Young said the terminal expansion will ensure the airport provides the highest level of customer experience for all travellers well into the future.
“Our aim is to provide a seamless, connected experience from the time you drive into the airport until you board your aircraft, and vice versa,” Mr Young said.
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience, understanding and co-operation this year both because of these construction works and the changed operational environment due to COVID-19.
We hope the completion of this project in 2021 will match up with travellers returning to the skies and that we’re on track for a return to international travel.”
To promote the re-opening of several retail stores in the terminal this month, Adelaide Airport is offering up to three hours free parking between 9am and 5pm to encourage customers to shop and dine at the airport.
Customers will need to pre-book parking via the Adelaide Airport website to receive the offer.
For more info, head to https://www.adelaideairport.com.au/corporate/.
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