For those of you who've been wanting to find out exactly what is meant by the terminal developments, the airport has now released a press statement;
New Look For Airport Terminal In 2007
Work is well underway on a significant redevelopment programme for the passenger terminal at East Midlands Airport – Nottingham, Leicester, Derby costing more than £8 million and improving facilities for over 4.7 million customers every year.
Construction began during the winter months of 2006 and the changes will be completed in time for the busy summer season which starts in April. A new escalator, staircase and lift are currently being installed in the departure lounge and the reconfiguration of the retail space is now taking place, with the first shop opening at the end of January. The mini bus station (interchange), being added to the arrivals area of the terminal building, is also being built and will be ready for shop fitting towards the end of February. All airside (beyond security) refurbishments are due to commence at the end of January.
A new pier with a high level walkway from the existing departure lounge is now under construction – this will allow passengers to walk undercover to a newly constructed gate lounge, which will serve six aircraft stands. The new gate lounge will be energy efficient obtaining the heat for the building from the ground. In addition the toilets will use rain water for flushing, reducing the impact on the environment. A number of commercial contracts have now been agreed and the Airport can announce that:
NCP (National Car Parks) has just been awarded a three year contract, starting March 2007, to manage the coaching and car parking operation. The company will be responsible for getting customers to and from the car parks to the terminal using a new fleet of low emission vehicles, which have just been purchased.
Jamie Christon, EMA General Manager Retail Trading said,
“We’re absolutely delighted that a company leading the industry with experience and an excellent reputation in this area of the business will be serving the Airport. Customers will be able to use the new, environmentally friendly fleet of coaches and will undoubtedly appreciate the first class service that NCP will provide to passengers during their journey.”
Peter Mawson, Airport Commercial Manager, National Car Parks Ltd said,
“NCP is delighted to be working with East Midlands Airport at such an exciting time in its development. We believe that our expertise in car parking will contribute towards even further improving the experience for customers using the Airport. Our aim is to provide a service which is a seamless as possible and allows passengers to park pay and get away as quickly and easily as possible.”
SSP (Select Service Partner) will continue to manage catering concessions in the terminal building and has been given a seven year contract. SSP has committed more than £2 million on developing a new Soho Coffee Company outlet to open in February, a new first floor bar with views across the runway, a landside sandwich shop in the Check-In Hall and a larger Caffe Ritazza in the departure lounge.
Alpha Airports Group has been awarded a seven year contract to operate duty free, catering and newsagents within the terminal building. Alpha has committed to spend £2 million in developing and refitting the existing units, to include a refurbished and extended duty free, a new airside newsagent, a bookshop and a refitted food hall.
A five year contract has also been secured by Alliance Boots to operate a new, enlarged store in the departure lounge. Jamie continued, “The Airport is very pleased that the Nottingham based company will continue to serve our passengers after ten successful years of trading here at the Castle Donington site. We have managed to provide a larger area in the departure lounge for the business to relocate from its original location before security”.
Finally, the Airport is relocating its Spar convenience store to a new, larger unit in the bus interchange. The shop will continue to sell those last minute food and drink purchases for both arriving and departing passengers, meeters and greeters and those travelling to and from the Airport by public transport. The expanded store will now also sell newspapers and magazines, food to go and hot drinks. Jamie said, “Spar has become a very popular addition to the Airport over the last five years. This brand new and greatly enlarged unit will allow the company to vastly increase its range and be a welcome improvement to all our customers”.
All this comes less than a week after East Midlands Airport secured the title of ‘Best Regional UK Airport’ at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards, beating other airports such as Manchester, Birmingham, London Gatwick and Stansted, who were also nominated in the category.
I've heard that the new sandwich shop in the check-in hall is going to be built where the old Thomas Cook ticket desk was. I can imagine that will please Servisair (as surely it blocks Desk 32) and easyJet (who now have a sandwich shop obscuring the view of their lovely orange wall.)