UK. Aberdeen International Airport has launched the first phase of its terminal transformation project a month ahead of schedule.
New retail outlets are scheduled to open before summer 2018 in a later phase of the project. The concessions will encompass fashion/sportswear, jewellery and gifting/souvenirs stores in the airport’s departure lounge, in a 276sq m space. The airport asked retailers to register their interest by the end of the first quarter of 2017.
The first phase of the transformation project included the introduction of new passport control and baggage reclaim facilities. Arriving passengers were welcomed into the new facility by the airport’s Managing Director Carol Benzie and Head of Capital John Deffenbaugh, and were piped through customs by a traditional Scottish piper.
Scotland’s ‘most famous bagpipe band’, The Red Hot Chilli Pipers, gave a surprise performance to celebrate the launch.
The next stage of the transformation project will see a new Northern Lights Executive Lounge open on 1 July. Passengers travelling from Aberdeen will be able to enjoy panoramic views of the runway, local food and drink, and a feature-whisky wall in the new lounge on the first floor of the extension building. This will be closely followed by the launch of a new domestic reclaim area and new customs facilities, airport owner AGS Airports said.
The full terminal transformation project is due to be completed by 2019.
“The launch of our new international arrivals facility marks the first stage of several years of planning, and it is so exciting for us to see those plans start to come into reality today,” said Benzie. “We were dedicated to delivering these new international facilities ahead of the peak summer season. Our domestic arrivals facility is on schedule to open in July which, alongside our new Northern Lights Executive Lounge, will see phase one of our transformation project completed and available to passengers within the summer season.”
Deffenbaugh added: “The facility has been designed around our passengers. Generous proportions, pale colours and rooftop skylight glazing create a sense of spaciousness and airiness while bold signage and feature lighting are designed to ensure that the passenger journey is clear. Compared to the previous facilities, the new area delivers a step change in the quality of experience we can offer passengers and this will be continued in the future phases of security search and departure lounge reconfiguration.”
