Ireland West Airport has unveiled the first phase of its €15m (US$17.4m) transformation project that includes a remodeled immigration and arrivals area, covered aircraft passenger boarding stairs and new toilet facilities.
The airport has invested over €4.5m (US$5.2m) in the first phase of improvements with support from the Department of Transport, Department of Community and Rural Affairs, local authority stakeholders and its customers through their development fee contributions.
Commenting on the completion of phase 1 of the airport transformation program, head of operations and commercial services at Ireland West Airport, John McCarthy said, “Phase 1 of the airport’s three-year transformation program has been completed as we enter the busiest part of the year for the airport, with over 400,000 passengers expected to pass through the facility over the remainder of the summer months.
“Having listened carefully to feedback from our passengers, we now believe we are developing passenger facilities here at the airport which are up there with the best of any regional airport across Europe.”
Phase 1 projects recently completed include:
• Construction and remodeling of new toilet facilities at the airport;
• Remodeling of immigration and arrivals area creating increased circulation space for arriving passengers;
• Covered aircraft passenger boarding stairs for passengers boarding and disembarking aircraft;
• Enhancement of the airport experience from a visual perspective helping to create a combination of a lighter and brighter passenger environment and contemporary look and feel throughout the airport terminal;
• Resurfacing of Car Park Zone 5 resulting in 250 permanent surfaced parking lot spaces less than five minutes’ walk from the terminal;
• Upgrade of existing parking lot equipment to the latest state of the art equipment;
• Construction of a new aviation gallery in the first floor of the terminal building;
• Installation of 25 new flight information display screens across the airport terminal;
• Installation of new state of the art digital display screens throughout the airport facility;
• Installation of a new industry best practice wayfinding signage system across the airport facility;
• Upgrade and replenishment of ground handling equipment, snow clearing equipment and safety and response vehicles;
• Extension to the fire station at the airport;
• Enhancements to the airport retail and catering facilities;
• Implementation of a major airfield drainage program on the airport’s runway;
• Upgrading of the runway lighting system.
Phase 2 of the airport transformation program has begun and will involve the completion of the following major projects over the coming 18 months:
• Opening of a new state-of-the-art Visitor Discovery Centre in the terminal building;
• Upgrading of hold baggage-screening equipment to comply with industry regulation;
• Remodeling and upgrading of the airport departures area;
• Upgrading of air traffic control equipment;
• Rehabilitation of the airports 2,400m-long (7,870ft) runway and upgrading of instrument landing system;
• Further upgrade and enhancement work to the airport car park.
Watch a video of the transformation here.
