Adelaide Airport $165 million terminal expansion gets green light

EXPANSION: A 3D rendering of the project

Adelaide Airport has 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.

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
• 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.”