Bristol Airport in southwest England has officially marked the completion of its £24m (US$30m) western terminal extension project by inviting Chris Grayling, the secretary of state for transport, to unveil a plaque in the new security screening area.
The 97,000ft2 extension will enable the airport to serve up to 10 million passengers annually with expanded baggage reclaim, customs, and meet and greet areas.
Grayling said, “Our regional airports are vital engines for growth, supporting local economies, creating jobs and boosting tourism opportunities. The significant investment that Bristol Airport is making will secure the future of this important transport link for the Southwest and make a real difference to the growing number of passengers who travel through it each day.”
Robert Sinclair, CEO at Bristol Airport, said, “Since 2010 we have invested more than £150m (US$190m) in the airport’s infrastructure in order to make Bristol Airport the number one choice for travel to and from southwest England and South Wales. This new extension transforms the departure experience for passengers, and the ‘sense of place’ we are instilling throughout the terminal aims to create a similarly positive impression for inbound visitors.
“I was delighted to have the opportunity to show the transport secretary how we in the Southwest are playing our part in demonstrating that the UK is open for business, and discussing areas where the government can make a difference, such as overseas tourism marketing and surface transport links.”
Completion of the terminal extension will enable the immigration hall to be enlarged by spring of 2017, with plans in place for a £2.3m (US$2.9m) upgrade including the installation of up to 10 ePassport gates. A further £20m (US$25m) is being invested across the airport’s car lots and a 201-room Hampton-by-Hilton hotel will open in February 2017.