Airport unveils new integrated terminal
Christchurch International Airport Ltd (CIAL) plans a new domestic terminal and integrated international terminal facilities worth about $200 million, to be completed by 2009.
The company is 75 per cent owned by the City Council through its holding company. Syd Bradley, the CIAL chairman, says the development will be good for tourism and travel in the south. The aim, he says, is to develop an asset that is effective, affordable and provides for the future of air travel in the region. "This is the largest and most complex capital investment seen in Canterbury in the last 20 years."
While the building is going on, the company must operate its normal business with as little disruption to its customers as possible. "At the end of the day the development will be worth it and Canterbury will have an asset that’s easily accessible for our customers — something the public can really be proud of," Mr Bradley says.
Key features include a new combined domestic and international check-in hall, new domestic terminal, a car park building, new international/domestic "swing" gates, new control tower, modern efficient baggage handling systems incorporating the latest in security, a large combined retail area for international and domestic, short walking distances, convenient gate lounges and quick transfers between international and domestic flights.
The price airlines are charged to use the airport have not changed since 2001 and the development will not require any financial input from the shareholders or ratepayers.
Getting under way now is work on detailed design and resource consent approvals. Construction is due to start, with a car park building, early next year.
Christchurch International Airport achieved a record 5.5m passenger movements this year and is planning a new development which will deliver the best service to travellers and airlines while keeping the costs of travel low.
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