Originally Posted by
FRatSTN
With regards to gate improvements, this is not simply a case of aesthetics. The passenger flow needs to be addressed with the new skylinks access in which the current domestic area with Gates 81-88 is particularly problematic, since there's no way to segregate departures from intl arrivals currently, hence Sat 2 will need to be reconfigured into a fully split-level facility much like Sat 1 is. The reference in the MAG release to "gate room reconfiguration to create more space for passengers pre-boarding their aircraft" will most likely be in the form of fully closed-gates more conventional to modern airport design (ie you scan your boarding pass then wait in an enclosed space/room until the aircraft is ready to board). Currently Gate 52 in the far end of Sat 3 is the only real pre-board gate at STN, with everything else a botched solution by holding passengers in corridors or stairwells. Ryanair is happy to do that, but most other airlines will not pre-board unless there's a certain level of space/seating provision.
Sorry if this sounds like a stupid question, but assuming that MAG decides to completely remodel and reconfigure satellite 2 to include fully-closed gate rooms, similar to say LGW pier 2 of the South Terminal and LHR Terminal 3, how is this going to be accommodated in an open-plan satellite boarding area, and how will this work when all gates and jet bridges need to be accessed via escalators one floor below? Surely these gate rooms would feel pretty narrow and cramped? This sounds like a major project for Sat 2 (even more so than the refurb of Sat 1 was), so I'd imagine it would be out of use for quite some time, so aircraft stand and gate provision would be fairly restricted. I'm also wondering what is to become of the existing gates 81-88, are these set to go when the existing footbridge from the terminal gets demolished? In a way, I'm sort of surprised that MAG opted not to install conventional gate rooms in sat 1 when it was refurbished, since most of the airlines other than FR and EZY use these gates. I don't think sat 3 will see many, if any changes during the terminal transformation plan (extension).
However, I do think that having actual closed-off gate room areas at STN with more seating provision will dramatically improve the passenger pre-boarding experience versus what it has been
I hope that MAG proceeds with this and doesn't cut corners.