Adelaide’s new international arrivals hall opens

Adelaide Airport’s new international arrivals hall includes a longer baggage belt for arrivals.

Adelaide Airport’s new international arrivals hall has opened, marking the final stage of its $200 million project to expand the terminal.

Upgrades include a second, longer baggage belt, more space for immigration processing and expanded security screening. The retail and dining precinct is also 80 per cent bigger than its previous itineration.

It comes almost a year after Adelaide’s international departure hall and retail concourse opened, and three years after the construction of the larger project began.

The airport’s managing director, Mark Young, said, “While COVID-19 has had a significant impact on aviation, we’ve remained on track to complete construction on new international arrival and departure facilities as well as expansion of our terminal retail precinct.

“Our aim has been to provide a seamless, connected experience from the time you drive into the airport until you board your aircraft, and vice versa.”

Builder BESIX Watpac handed over the project to Adelaide Airport on 18 November, before it opened on 9 December.

Gate 18 is now a permanent international gate, while other international gates will continue to utilise Adelaide Airport’s unique swing gate system to allow both international and domestic operations.

The majority of new retailers and dining outlets have now opened, including more recently Coopers Alehouse, The Pantry, SOHO Café, JB HiFi, WHSmith and Southern Providore.

Other improvements have included a new common user premium international lounge and new VIP facilities for international arrivals and departures, expansion of Virgin’s lounge and office space for terminal tenants.

The launch of the new facilities is Adelaide Airport’s first major expansion since the current terminal was opened in 2005.

The new international departures hall is three times the size of the previous facility.

The entire project will expand the terminal’s retail footprint to 7,257 square metres, while overall terminal expansion will be 16,500 square metres.

Passenger numbers have increased by close to 50 per cent since the existing terminal was opened. International passengers alone have tripled over the same 15-year period.

BESIX Watpac SA manager Al Crosby said, “Despite all the challenges of COVID, this project set the platinum standard in collaborative project delivery.”