Oslo Airport
Each month between March and July, monthly throughput has exceeded two million passengers.
Norway’s Oslo Airport has opened its new domestic arrivals hall, the first stage of a major redevelopment plan. Arriving domestic passengers will be served by a hall some 15,000sqm larger than the old facility. This is the first large part of the facility to open before the new Oslo Airport officially opens on 27 April 2017. The redevelopment will also include a much-expanded departures hall and a new, 300m-long third pier that will handle both domestic and international flights at 17 parking spots, 11 of which will be equipped with airbridges. Construction work will continue in many areas of the facility until the formal opening of the completed airport on 27 April 2017.
Gatwick Airport
If its 2016 growth so far this year continues, the airport should get close to 43m annual passengers.
Gatwick, in partnership with DHL, is set to become the first hub in the world able to dispose of Category 1 airport waste on-site and convert it into energy. Category 1 is defined as food waste or anything mixed with it – such as packaging, cups, meal trays – from international transport vehicles. From November Gatwick’s new £3.8 million (€4.5m) processing plant will not only dispose of this waste safely on-site, it will also convert it – and all other organic waste – into energy to power the new plant and heat the North Terminal. Gatwick currently treats 2,200 tonnes of so-called Category 1 waste a year – around 20% of the total generated at the airport – and the new energy plant will process around 10 tonnes a day.
Lisbon Airport
If its 2016 growth so far this year continues, Lisbon should top 21.5m annual passengers.
ANA/VINCI Airports has invested in upgrading its operating capacity and commercial areas at Lisbon Airport. The new walk-through duty free shop has been expanded by 450sqm to 1,900sqm. In terms of operations, new security control and screening areas incorporating 10 new X-ray scanners have been built, which increases operating capacity to 3,000 passengers per hour in Terminal 1. The number of scanners to read and validate boarding passes has been increased to nine terminals and a new check-in area has been put into service with an extra 10 check-in desks already available and a further six scheduled to become operational in November.
Keflavik Airport
Has handled 4.5m passengers so far in 2016; 2015 total was 4.9m.
In order to improve the passenger experience, the airport is using BlipTrack, Wi-Fi sensors that track passenger flow through terminals in real-time. BLIP’s sensors monitor passenger queues and dwell times within the terminal, which help Keflavik calculate waiting times to pass security and display them in real-time. Keflavik also displays wait times on the airport’s website, helping keep travellers informed of potential delays even before they leave home. The sensors only register each device’s unique ID and do not pick up any sensitive personal information.
Nice & Lyon Airports
Nice has grown by on average 5% during 2016 (Jan-Jul). Lyon has record double-digit growth in peak summer months of June & July.
France has chosen the winning bidders for the sale of 60% stakes in the French airports of Nice Côte d’Azur and Lyon-Saint-Exupéry. Italy’s Atlantia in cooperation with EDF was chosen for Nice Airport, while a consortium of VINCI, state bank Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations and Credit Agricole’s insurance arm Predica was picked for Lyon Airport. The government expects proceeds of €1.22 billion for Nice and €535 million for Lyon Airport.
Milan Airports
Traffic at the two airports combined so far in 2016 (Jan-Jul) has risen from 16.1m in 2015 to 16.5m this year.
Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports – both run by SEA Group – have launched an all-new app for passengers giving them access to features, including shopping and dining, to improve their travel experience – and on a more interactive basis than the previous app. A complete list of LIN and MXP retailers and restaurants, as well as information about how to get to the airport and where to park, traffic updates and transport options are featured. App users receive free, unlimited access to high-speed Wi-Fi browsing at both airports, as well as discounts and personalised offers. The current languages available are Italian, English and Chinese.
Helsinki Airport
Its average monthly throughput so far in 2016 (Jan-Aug) is 1.43m up from 1.37m in 2015.
Helsinki Airport is testing a new online service that gives passengers the chance to regain valuable items, which are confiscated from hand baggage. Airport operator Finavia currently confiscates around 400,000 items a year during routine security checks on passenger bags and it has teamed up with the Cotio Ltd company to launch this new online portal. The trial run for the retrieval service will last until the end of 2016. Passengers are given a receipt for those items seized by security, and they may then use the information on the receipt to access the service – and their stuff – on www.cotio.fi. The service fee depends on the nature of the item and the delivery method. The online service is available in English, Finnish, Swedish and Russian.
Tallinn Airport
Despite its recent issues, the airport is still posting marginal year-on-year growth (+0.4%) – Jan-Aug.
Construction work began on 10 August on an extension of the Tallinn tram network to serve the city’s airport. A consortium of Merko Ehitus and KMG Insenerehituse was selected in late 2015 to build the extension. The project cost of €11.5 million (excluding VAT) is 85% financed by the EU. Completion is due in late 2017.
Tbilisi Airport
Based on Jan-May 2016 figures, the airport has monthly growth of over 20%.
A new €23 million terminal will be constructed at Tbilisi’s Shota Rustaveli International Airport as part of a major expansion project. Planned to be completed at the end of 2017, the new terminal will be able to provide service to approximately four million passengers per year. The new terminal will cover more than 12,000sqm. The project also includes the rehabilitation of runway and taxiways and the construction of new aircraft parking.
Tivat Airport
Tivat handled nearly 10 times more traffic in June 2016 than it did in January 2016.
The construction of a new terminal at Montenegro’s Tivat Airport is expected to begin later this year. Valued at around €40 million, the expansion project will include the construction of a new terminal building, jetways, apron and a parking lot.
