MALTA. Malta International Airport has revealed plans for a €100 million transformation and expansion of its terminal building, through which it aims to deliver a “five-star experience” to travellers. It is being supported by London-based airport design and planning partners The Design Solution and Pragma Consulting.
Devised to cope with the airport’s continuing traffic growth, the plan includes an expansion of terminal floor space from 18,000sq m to 31,200sq m, centred around the check-in hall, security area and departures. The plan also places an emphasis on enhancing the passenger experience and a distinct Sense of Place.
The result, according to the airport and its design partners, should be “a more natural and effective passenger journey through the terminal, thereby enhancing passenger flow and exposure to the retail and F&B offers”.
As well as airside developments, the landside zone will incorporate an expanded heart to the terminal, bringing together retail and dining for both departing and arriving passengers, and increasing exposure to the offer.
The airport’s investment programme also incorporates developments across the airport estate, including the development of the apron, the construction of an additional business park (SkyParks II) and the building of a new hotel. In addition, the introduction of smart technologies includes a new building management system to enable energy and water management optimisation to support the development of an energy-efficient building.
Airport CEO Alan Borg said: “Having officially unveiled the Terminal Expansion Project to the public in January, we are now eager to kick-start the next phase of this ambitious project. The Terminal Expansion Project will equip us with the capacity to handle further traffic growth and enable us to offer a five-star airport experience. This will be achieved through a combination of increased operational space, a superior F&B and retail offering, a stronger sense of place and the use of cutting-edge technologies.”
The plan also aims to increase the amount of natural light coming into the terminal and to reveal the and natural beauty of Malta in design. This will feature in the use of traditional patterns and materials and colours that are evocative of the sea and clear skies, complemented by the light through the building.
The Design Solution Director Graeme Johns said: “The Design Solution has a long history of partnership with the dedicated team at MIA and we are proud to have been selected to support them on this major phase of the airport’s development.
“The plan incorporates three main areas of expansion to the terminal, collectively enabling us to implement a change of image to the exterior appearance of the building that, carefully co-ordinated with our planning input, will help deliver a smarter flow and a new experience for the passenger. The axial nature of the original building was used to deliver an order to the main architectural elements, thus maintaining the airport’s twin wish to retain the architectural symmetry and design aesthetic of the building.”
Malta Airport achieved passenger growth of +7.4% in 2019 to 7.31 million, supported by 20 new destinations, in its role as host to 97% of the island’s tourist traffic, making it a crucial contributor to the Maltese economy.
