Adelaide Airport’s $1 billion expansion, featuring 250-room hotel and office complex, set for take off
ADELAIDE Airport will begin work on a major terminal expansion, a 250-room hotel and an office complex within five years after the Federal Government approved $1 billion of investment.
ADELAIDE Airport will begin work on a major terminal expansion, a 250-room hotel and an office complex within five years after the Federal Government approved $1 billion of investment.
Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young said planning for the three key projects would be progressed this year, with construction expected in the next two to five years.
“Terminal expansion is something that is required,” he said.
“We’ll do eight million passengers this year and the original terminal design was for something a little bit less than that.”
“We are down to final detailed designs for the terminal expansion and will be commencing stakeholder negotiations very shortly.”
“For the hotel we believe the time is right — we’ll be putting it to market during the course of the year — looking for a developer and operator.”
The Government yesterday signed off on a 30-year masterplan for the airport, which forecasts $1bn to be spent in the next five years on major projects, including an expansion of the southern end of the main terminal.
The master plan — a document produced every five years to guide airport development — forecasts an annual 3 per cent increase in aircraft movements over 20 years.
Other infrastructure projects planned for the next five years include an expansion of the international arrivals hall, additional international arrival gates, an expansion of the main security check point and more retail space and airline lounges.
In the longer term, a light rail corridor has been mooted, allowing for a possible future tram link to the city.
Annual passenger numbers are forecast to 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.
However, there are no proposals to change the 11pm-6am curfew.
The master plan forms the part of the Airport’s 30-year vision which was released in October and includes a plan to triple the number of domestic and international terminal aerobridges by 2044, accommodating new-generation aircraft including the A380 and Dreamliner.
“The approval of our master plan allows us to plan and commit to appropriate levels of infrastructure to stay ahead of our growth and maintain our reputation as one of Australia’s most modern airports,” Mr Young said.
“We’re confident we can bring our 30-year vision to life within the framework put in place by the master plan.”
Adelaide Airport is the state’s largest employer at a single site.
About 8500 people work within the airport precinct, and there are a further estimated 9000 jobs across the state associated with airport activity — a total of 17,500 jobs.
Mr Young expects this to grow to 37,500 jobs within the 20-year forecast.