Adelaide Airport will undergo a $165m expansion, creating 200 jobs at construction peak and significantly improving the international travelling experience.
The project – the airport’s largest infrastructure upgrade in more than a decade – will involve an overhaul to the main terminal, including an 80% increase in the size of the dining and retail precinct.
Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young says the expansion will provide a “seamless, connected experience from the time you drive into the airport until you board your aircraft, and vice versa”.
“Since we opened the existing terminal in 2005, our overall passenger numbers have increased by close to 50%,” he says.
“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 capacity to meet future forecast growth in the number of flights, we’re reaching capacity within the terminal.”
An artist’s impression of the upgraded terminal, featuring a larger retail and food precinct and greater facilities for international travellers.
The upgrades are expected to significantly improve international arrival and departure areas including a second, longer baggage belt, more space for emigration and immigration processing, expanded security screening and a larger duty-free precinct.
The retail precinct will also undergo a complete refurbishment, increasing by 80% in size across domestic and international areas.
Other improvements include a new premium international lounge, Adelaide’s first international arrival and departure VIP facilities, and a relocation of the Virgin Australia lounge.
Work will begin immediately and be completed by 2021.
ASX-listed construction company Watpac – which has an office in Adelaide – is the project builder and will start on site in a fortnight.
Mark says 70% of materials used in the project and 100% of the labour force will be South Australian.
He says 200 jobs will be created during construction peak, with a further 600 retail positions created due to the retail and dining expansion.
The retail and dining area will increase by 80%.
Mark says the expansion could help attract more international airlines to Adelaide.
“We would like to see a direct service to the west coast of the US, but that is some time off as there is often a 5 to 7-year period of marketing,” he says.
Mark says the airport is also focusing on increasing its services into mainland China.
He says airports form an important basis for people’s travels.
“People really feel that an airport is the start of their journey,” Mark says.
“They use that visitor opportunity to experience a little bit of SA.”
The upgrade is set to be complete by 2021.
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, David Ridgway, says the expansion is a vote of confidence in the SA economy and will help grow the state’s tourism industry.
“This redevelopment will enhance SA’s ability to attract more international airlines and accommodate an increase in the frequency of air services in the future – all of which will help grow our economy and support more jobs,” he says.
“It’s certainly very encouraging to see private sector investment of this scale in SA and I would like to congratulate Adelaide Airport on this significant investment.”
Adelaide Airport processes more than eight million passengers a year.
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