Green light for Adelaide Airport terminal expansion
Adelaide Airport has today announced a $165 million expansion of its main terminal to significantly upgrade international arrivals and departures, and create more retail and dining options for both domestic and international travellers.
Work will begin immediately, with the key focus of the expansion being on improving the arrivals and departures experience for international passengers.
Watpac has been appointed as the project builder, and is expected to move on site within the next two weeks. The project completion date is 2021.
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.
The expansion will also 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.
Other improvements include:
- A new common user premium international lounge;
- New VIP facilities for international arrivals and departures;
- Relocation of the Virgin Australia Lounge; and
- Expansion of office space for terminal tenants including airlines and regulatory agencies.
Adelaide Airport Managing Director, Mark 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. “Since we opened the existing terminal in 2005, our overall passenger numbers have increased by close to 50 per cent. Our international passenger numbers alone have almost tripled over the
same period.
“This extraordinary growth means we need to keep growing our existing facilities. While we still have sufficient gate capacity to meet future forecast growth in the number of flights, we’re
reaching capacity within the terminal.
“This expansion will allow us to be fit-for-purpose based on our future growth forecasts. “It’s expected the workforce on this project will reach 200 at the peak of construction.”
Adelaide Airport Chairman, Rob Chapman, said creating additional space would open up more options when negotiating new services and destinations with international airline partners.
“This is by far our biggest infrastructure project since the completion of the existing terminal in 2005,” Mr Chapman said. “We believe Adelaide Airport has the best airport terminal in Australia, and this expansion will allow us to continue to offer the high level of customer service that our travellers expect.”
Virgin Australia Airlines Group Executive, Rob Sharp, said the terminal expansion and relocation of the Virgin Australia Lounge is a major win for travellers.
“The airport experience is an important part of our guests’ overall travel experience and the terminal upgrade will only further enhance the ground experience for our guests travelling through
Adelaide,” Mr Sharp said. “The relocation of the Virgin Australia Lounge presents an exciting opportunity and we look forward to sharing more detail on our plans in due course.”
The Marshall Government has welcomed Adelaide Airport’s $165 million expansion saying it was a vote of confidence in the South Australian economy and would help grow the state’s tourism
industry.
“The Marshall Government has a strong economic and tourism reform agenda to grow South Australia’s economy and create more jobs and today’s announcement complements that plan,”
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway said. “This redevelopment will enhance South Australia’s ability to attract more international airlines and accommodate an increase in the frequency of air services in the future – all of which will help grow our economy and support more jobs.
“It’s certainly very encouraging to see private sector investment of this scale in South Australia and I would like to congratulate Adelaide Airport on this significant investment.”
