Airport World turns the spotlight on some exciting airport development projects takingplace in Asia-Pacific and Europe.

Singapore Changi has provided passengers with a sneakpreview of its new Terminal 4.

According to operator, Changi Airport Group (CAG), the terminal – pictured above – will “present a new travel experience with its boutique design and innovative use of technology”.

It will also be the first terminal at Changi Airport to offer end-to-end Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) for departing passengers.

With the extensive use of technology, including facial recognition software, CAG states that FAST will redefine the travel experience for passengers as well as enhance operational efficiency and raise productivity.

“Passengers will enjoy the flexibility of checking in at their own convenience, without having to wait for counters to open. FAST will also yield productivity gains with manpower savings of about 20% expected in the longer term, when operations have stabilised,” says CAG.

Capable of handling up to 16 million passengers per annum, Terminal 4 has a total floor area of 225,000 square metres including the two-storey terminal, car parks and taxi deck.

According to CAG, T4’s design theme is fun, vibrant and positively surprising. There is a sense of space – a hallmark of Changi Airport – brought about by a high ceiling and height limits for equipment and machines.

It reveals that the terminal’s showpiece is a Central Galleria (300m long x 18m wide x 23m high), which separates the public zone from the transit area.

This visual-transparent concept provides a clear view from the check-in hall through the transit area and, at some locations, even right up to the boarding gates.

Due to its compact size, T4 will have centralised areas for departure and arrival immigration as well as pre-board security screening.

The terminal also promises to be light, airy and ‘green’ courtesy of skylights and glass walls allowing natural light and plenty of plants and trees.

Indeed, landscaping covers 2,000 square metres and Terminal 4 is home to 186 large trees.

The art collection at T4 features an eclectic mix of contemporary works by local and foreign artists, with a diverse blend of mediums, sizes and imagery.

Poh Li San, CAG’s vice president, T4 programme management office, enthuses: “T4 was conceived with the vision to rethink travel, push boundaries and break new ground.

“Through innovative concepts of operation and terminal design, we sought to address our capacity needs as well as improve efficiency and manpower productivity.

“For the passenger, we wanted to delight them with ‘wow’ features and showcase our local culture and architectural history at the Heritage Zone. We look forward to welcoming the public to our Open House in August, and passengers when we open T4 for operations later this year.”

Costing around SUSD 1.3 billion, the new 195,000sqm complex will raise Changi’s passenger handling capacity by around 25% from the current 66mppa to an impressive 85 million passengers per annum.

Expanding Schiphol

Amsterdam Schiphol’s new pier and terminal are a step closer to reality after the appointment of a specialist team to manage their construction.

Operator, the Royal Schiphol Group, has engaged Mace, Arcadis, Royal HaskoningDHV and AECOM DVP to oversee the construction of the new facilities, which will raise the airport’s capacity by 14 million passengers a year.

Amsterdam Schiphol’s capital development programme outlines plans to open the new pier in 2019 and new terminal in 2023.

According to the airport, the expansion is required in order to strengthen its “competitive position”, allow the gateway to keep pace with the growth in aviation and cement its status as one of Europe’s ‘preferred airports’ for airlines and passengers.

“The Capital Programme is a complex and ambitious project,” says the Schiphol Group. Not least because of the spatial limitations at Amsterdam Schiphol, as well as the fact that the airport will remain in full use during construction.

“This is also the reason why Schiphol seeks to strengthen the current project team with the addition of Mace, Arcadis, Royal HaskoningDHV and AECOM DVP.

“Mace and Arcadis will take on responsibility for project and construction management of the new pier and terminal, while Royal HaskoningDHV will be responsible for project management for all landside reconstruction work, and AECOM DVP will be project manager for all construction logistics.”

Sustainable growth

The Istanbul New Airport infrastructure project in Turkey aims to become the first and largest infrastructure project outside North America to obtain Envision sustainability verification.

The Envision system rates sustainable infrastructure projects across the full range of environmental, social, and economic impacts.

With a vision of Istanbul New Airport as one of the world’s top aviation hubs, the airport project strives to set an example not only as an innovative infrastructure project, but also a driving force making significant contributions to Turkey’s sustainable development.

The airport will eventually boast two terminals, six runways and an annual passenger capacity of 200 million passengers, once all the phases are complete.

As part of the project, it will follow all internationally recognised sustainability practices, particularly related to the environment, biodiversity, ground improvement, local employment, supply chain and subcontracting network, human rights and stakeholder relations.

IGA, the company responsible for constructing and operating the project for 25 years, completed an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study for the airport according to International Finance Corporation (IFC) Standards and the Equator Principles in 2015, and now the project is targeting verification in accordance with the Envision Rating System programme, offered by the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure.

Through this reporting process for Envision, IGA claims to have vastly improved its sustainability practices and achieved a sustainability culture within its organisation.

“With Envision we have the best possible partner on board,” says IGA’s environment and sustainability director, Ulku Ozeren.

“Sustainability is important to us. We constantly strive for the best. The verification process will help us build an exemplary airport which will further enhance the development of Turkey.”

Big plans for Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

Aeroporti di Roma’s ambitious €12 billion master plan for Fiumicino (FCO) is based on its commitment to raising service standards at the gateway, meeting rising traffic demand and making the airport more appealing and competitive on an international level.

ADR has already invested €1 billion on enhancing FCO’s infrastructure over the last four years, most significantly creating a new International Boarding Area E, new-look fa�ade to Terminal 3, and installing one of Europe’s most complex baggage handling systems capable of handling 10,000 bags per hour through 12 security gates.

Inaugurated in December 2016, the 90,000sqm International Boarding Area E will allow FCO to handle an extra six million passengers per annum and has doubled its capacity for handling non-Schengen traffic.

The new complex is said to boast one of the largest airport shopping arcades in Europe with over 40 specialist outlets in the Piazza del Made in Italy.

ADR points out that the upgrade to date, which has also included revamping FCO’s road access and refurbishing two runways, has been carried out without expanding the airport’s footprint by a single metre.

It now intends investing around €2 billion in the next five years on key capacity and customer service enhancing projects that include the addition of a new front or ‘Forebuilding’ for Terminal 1 and a new Pier A.

The modernisation of Terminal 5 and the renovation and refurbishment of Terminal 3 are also due to be completed by 2021.

“The new Forebuilding will measure approximately 35,000 square metres and increase the airport’s capacity by up to four million passengers per year,” says ADR.

“It has been designed with a green perspective and is expected to achieve the LEED gold certification standard, one of the highest rankings in the world in terms of sustainability.

“The project includes the planned restoration and restyling of the current Terminal 1 mezzanine level, which offers a range of food and shops for departing passengers.”

FCO’s airside infrastructure will also be upgraded during the 2017-2021 time frame with improvements planned to existing aprons, runways and taxiways and the addition of a new runway.

“A new fourth runway will make Fiumicino more competitive when it comes to attracting international traffic,” says ADR.

“It will also lead to an 80% reduction in noise levels in the vicinity of FCO, bringing us more inline with other major European airports.”

Looking even further ahead, ADR has plans to transform FCO into a 100mppa capacity mega hub by 2044.

Speaking earlier this year at ACI’s Airport Economics & Finance Conference in London, ADR’s chief strategy and financial officer, Marco Troncone, said: “Airlines want state-of-the-art infrastructure that allows for efficient and effective operations at the right price, and ADR is committed to providing this through one of the largest airport investment plans in Europe.”

A record 41.7 million passengers (+3.2%) passed through FCO in 2016 to cement its status among the top 10 busiest airports in Europe.

Major upgrade planned for Hong Kong’s Terminal 1

Hong Kong International Airport has unveiled a series of major enhancements to its existing airport facilities that it claims will increase its handling capacity and “provide a vibrant new experience for passengers”.

Airport Authority of Hong Kong (AAHK) CEO, Fred Lam, said: “The enhancement projects for Terminal 1, together with the Three-runway System in 2024, will increase the airport’s handling capacity, as well as bringing a fresh look and feel.

“Passengers from around the world will enjoy an experience tantamount to travelling through a new airport.”

According to AAHK, passengers will enjoy a more spacious Terminal 1 following expansion works to the north of the existing building, facing Car Park 4.

Over 40 new check-in counters with self-bag drop facilities and two new additional baggage reclaim carousels will be installed and the project will also provide more seats, shops and catering outlets in the expanded Arrivals Hall on the landside.

The enhancement projects also include an extension building adjacent to the existing Car Park 4 to provide approximately 1,400 additional parking spaces, as well as premises for the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy and HKIA Preschool.

The new building will also house other staff-related facilities including a community centre, a multi-purpose sports hall and fitness centre, and staff canteens for the airport community.

In addition, AAHK is planning to build a weather proof footbridge connecting Terminal 1 and the North Satellite Concourse, known as ‘Sky Bridge’, which will reduce passengers’ travelling time and the need for using shuttle buses.

Rising 28 metres above ground, Sky Bridge will allow the largest A380 aircrafts to taxi underneath. The 200-metre long footbridge will be equipped with travelators and feature an observation deck and catering outlets in the towers at both sides, providing scenic spots and relaxation spaces for passengers.

Meanwhile, new features in the expanded East Hall of Terminal 1 will include a roof garden and a children’s play area that spans two levels in the restricted area. There will also be a dedicated recreational zone featuring new technologies for travellers.

On the other side of the expanded East Hall, passengers will be able to relax in green, open-air spaces in a new outdoor garden.

AAHK is also studying the look and feel of the boarding gate areas at Terminal 1 and considering introducing various themed areas to provide new experiences for passengers at the gates.

The HKUSD 7 billion enhancement projects will be completed in phases over the next four years.