Adelaide Airport to undergo $165 million redevelopment of international terminal
A $165 million facelift at Adelaide Airport’s international terminal, creating hundreds of jobs, is the centrepiece of a push for direct flights to the US west coast.
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A $165 million facelift at Adelaide Airport’s international terminal is the centrepiece of its push for direct flights to the US west coast.
Adelaide Airport has announced that it would deliver a new international traveller experience by 2021.
Successful contractor, Queensland sharemarket-listed company Watpac, would start work within weeks, creating about 200 construction jobs at peak.
The new-look international arrivals area will feature VIP facilities and lounges for the first time in its history, a new common user lounge for international departures, a larger retail and dining precinct within international departures and an expanded duty free area.
The emigration and security screening space is being relocated from Level 2 to Level 1 and the Virgin Australia lounge will also be relocated.
A second baggage claim facility is also on the cards, cutting down on waiting times for passengers.
The international terminal expansion is the next stage of the $1 billion Adelaide Airport expansion master plan over 30 years, approved by the Federal Government in 2015.
Adelaide Airport leases the space from government.
Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young said overall passenger numbers had grown 50 per cent since 2005.
“We are working on trying to develop a direct service with the west coast of the US, but that will take time,” he said.
“More medium-term aspirations will be to see increased frequency and direct service into China.”
The master plan forecasts an annual 3 per cent increase in aircraft movements over 20 years.
Construction of the 250-room hotel will be completed before the end of the year.
The master plan predicts annual passenger numbers will increase from 807,000 in 2013 to 2.81 million in 2034 for international flights, and from 6.1 million in 2014 to 14.1 million by 2034 for domestic flights.
Mr Young told The Advertiser the airport was on track to meet these passenger targets.
He said the airport would try to minimise the impact on passengers during construction, but warned there may be short-term difficulties in the pursuit of long-term gain.
“We’re planning for it to be business as usual,” he said.
The terminal was opened in 2005, but Mr Young said passenger growth had been faster than expected. The redevelopment is also expected to attract more international airlines to the airport. Current users include Emirates, Qatar and China Southern.
The 30-year vision also included a light rail corridor, allowing for a tram link to the city, and a plan to triple the number of domestic and international terminal aerobridges by 2044, accommodating new-generation aircraft, including the A380s and Dreamliners.
Adelaide Airport is the state’s largest employer at a single site.
More than 8500 people work within the airport precinct, and there are a further estimated 9000 jobs-plus across the state associated with airport activity — a total of 17,500 jobs.
A total of 37,500 jobs are predicted by 2030.
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