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Dublin Airport
Ireland’s biggest airport operator has applauded the government’s decision to scrap its air travel tax from April next year. The Irish Government has moved to remove the €3 air travel tax, which had been blamed for negatively impacting both outbound and inbound travel in the republic. The DAA, which operates Dublin and Cork airports, said it was a welcome move for the air travel industry in the country.
Manchester Airport
Chinese investors will pump millions of pounds into the £800 million development of Manchester’s Airport City, which is hoped will strengthen business links between Britain and the world’s second largest economy. Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) has agreed a joint venture with Manchester Airports Group (MAG), UK construction group Carillion, and the Greater Manchester Pension Fund on the development which is expected to create around 16,000 new jobs and attract international businesses.
Bristol Airport
Work has started on a £6.5 million walkway at Bristol Airport to enhance the passenger experience and ease departure lounge congestion at peak times. Once completed, the central walkway will feature four new pre-boarding zones serving up to six departure gates. The 3,880sqm structure will connect directly to the departure lounge.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Paris-CDG has opened an additional 1,200sqm of retail space dedicated to beauty care and French lifestyle. The new additions come in the form of two new BuY PARIS DUTY FREE multi-brand stores offering perfumes, cosmetics, wines & spirits, tobacco products and fine foods. The gateway now boasts 72 BuY PARIS DUTY FREE retail outlets.
Berlin Brandenburg
International Airport Berlin’s new €2.5 billion airport is a step closer to becoming reality after Siemens signed a contract for the reconstruction of the smoke ventilation control system that delayed its opening. According to Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, the work is necessary as some of the parts in the existing smoke ventilation control system – built by various third-party contractors – had “proved unworkable” in tests.
Göteborg-Landvetter Airport
Travellers can now purchase ‘printon- demand’ reading material through an eco-friendly service at Göteborg Landvetter Airport in Sweden. Swedavia, which runs the Swedish airport, says it is the first to offer the initiative, which will be located at its newsstand kiosk Meganews Magazines. Passengers can choose from more than a hundred publications from periodical to print titles and pay the same price as in a regular shop using their credit card.
Helsinki Airport
Finavia Corporation, the company responsible for Finland’s airports and air navigation services, is starting a major development programme at Helsinki Airport. Finavia will advance with two separate investment programmes totalling some €300 million between now and 2020. The aim is to ensure that Helsinki Airport will be able to maintain its strong competitive position in transit traffic between Europe and Asia.
St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport
The €700 million development of new terminal facilities at St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport will set a ‘benchmark’ for construction in the industry. Phase one of the terminal revamp at Pulkovo, which serves Russia’s second biggest city and is the nation’s self-proclaimed ‘gateway in the east’, is set to welcome its first passengers on 4 December. A number of new facilities have been built as part of the first phase, including the main building of the new central passenger terminal and North Pier.
Kharkiv Airport
The arrival of a brand new homebased carrier, the commencement of scheduled flights from Central and Eastern European low-cost carrier Wizz Air, and the imminent opening of a new cargo terminal, mean 2013 will be remembered for the right reasons. And, there is further network growth on the cards, including new direct links to Asia and Europe – markets that are currently heavily served via one-stop flights.
Liege Airport
This year’s FIATA World Congress & Air Cargo Logistics Conference took place in Singapore in mid-October. The 2nd ‘Payload Asia Awards’ took place at the event and Liege Airport beat off competition from Singapore’s Changi Airport and Atlanta’s International Airport among others. Liege won for its full commitment to cargo, operational cargo performance, customer service and a competitive costs and services model.
Istanbul Airport
Oslo-based architecture firm Nordic Office of Architecture has won the right to design Istanbul’s new airport. The Norwegian architect joined forces with British firm Grimshaw to beat eight other contenders to design what is expected to be the world’s largest airport. The new airport will be designed to accommodate 90mppa and 150mppa within 10 years, and have three runways. The airport is scheduled for completion by 2017.
