Click to enlarge
Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has unveiled plans for a major new business complex beside the airport. A key 20-acre site directly in front of Terminal 2 will accommodate the first phase of a planned 70-acre business park aimed primarily at international high-tech companies involved in research and development, as well as other service industries looking for ultra-modern offices. Ongoing discussions are underway for preparation of a master plan for the entire site.
London-Gatwick
London-Gatwick is set to invest a further €1.2 billion into the airport in the next six years. The announcement forms part of the airport’s business plan for 2014 to 2019 – and represents one of the largest private-sector investments in UK infrastructure. Facilities will include a new baggage system, allowing passengers to use automated fast-bag drops, and new gate rooms linked to five new aircraft stands by air bridges.
ANA Aeroportos de Portugal
Europe’s biggest construction group VINCI won the auction for the Portuguese airport system, ANA Aeroportos de Portugal. The former state-owned airport operator which holds a 50-year concession for 10 airports in Portugal was sold for €3.08 billion. The transfer of ANA shares will take place upon approval by the relevant competition authorities. The contract also gives ANA exclusive rights to negotiate the construction and operation of Lisbon’s new airport, once capacity at Lisbon Portela Airport is saturated.
Aena Aeropuertos
Aena Aeropuertos has launched a tender for car parking across 32 Spanish airports – a business that generated €91 million in revenues in 2012. The airport company said it was offering contracts in two separate lots, arranged by region, for a minimum total bid of €102 million over the term. The contracts run for five years with the option of extensions for up to two years. Aena Aeropuertos said it was aiming to match the best practices at international airports with its car parking services.
Helsinki Airport (Finavia)
The number of people using free Wi-Fi at Helsinki Airport has increased by +3,000% since 2009. The rapid increase in the user volume is mainly based on mobile devices becoming more common and the fact that the Wi-Fi at Helsinki Airport is very efficient.
Moscow Sheremetyevo
Moscow Sheremetyevo won the top accolade in the European section of this year’s ACI Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. The airport topped the list of Europe’s best airports in terms of passenger service quality, not only becoming the very first Russian airport to achieve this distinction, but also the very first European airport with more than 25 million passengers per year, to do so.
Gothenburg-Landvetter (Swedavia)
Swedavia’s Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport has inaugurated its new departure hall. The 2,800 sq ft area boasts a large variety of restaurants and shops, and the airport says the new facility lifts it into the “international top class”.
Rome-Fiumicino
Rome-Fiumicino is to benefit from investment of more than €12 billion in the next 30 years as its operator, Aeroporti di Roma, aims to turn the airport into a hub for the Mediterranean region. The airport will attract 100 million passengers by 2044, with an average annual growth rate of +2.7%.
Sofia Airport
A new project will get underway at Sofia Airport for the reconstruction and expansion of the passenger gallery of its Terminal 2. It will be driven by the constantly growing number of passengers at the airport and the need for a better and faster service. The expansion of the passenger gallery will boost its capacity, serving 200,000 more passengers a year.
Istanbul expanding…
In late January, the Turkish government announced a tender for an audacious third airport for Istanbul, with an ultimate capacity of 150 million passengers per year. The tender is scheduled to be awarded on 3 May 2013, so that the new airport can open its first phase of operations in 2017. In parallel, the operators of Istanbul- Atatürk Airport – TAV Airports Holding announced a net profit of €124 million in 2012 – up from a net profit of €53 million in 2011. The group finished the year operating at 12 airports in six countries, spanning three continents.
