London Southend Airport, an airport in the UK, has announced that it is in the process of expanding the terminal.
The expansion will include a new arrivals facility, which is expected to be complete by May 2013. The construction of all phases of the development is likely to be completed by the end of 2013.
The extension of the airport terminal, which will cost GBP10 million, means that passengers will have a maximum wait time of four-minutes for security check, and a 15 minutes transit time from aircraft to train for passengers that only have hand luggage, as the airport is located almost next to a railway station. The new extension will add 90 metres to the existing terminal building.
The expansion will also include a greater number of check-in desks and baggage drop off points, an increase in the size of the departure lounge, improved baggage reclaim facilities and a larger immigration area. The airport will also be offering more retail and catering facilities to passengers.
The project is expected to add around 300 new jobs to the economy, from additional operations at the terminal.
The managing director of the airport, Alastair Welch, said, ‘Our aim is to ensure that we deliver a very special level of customer service in Southend and this extension will allow us to ensure we can continue to deliver those high standards as the airport grows.
This is also further evidence of the role the redeveloped airport is playing in supporting the regeneration of the wider Essex economy.’
