Malta International Airport (MIA) is embarking on a ‘radical’ programme to increase its passenger capacity and improve customer experience with an expansion of its footprint from 18,000sq m to 31,200sqm.

 

The check-in hall, security area and departures will all benefit from the transformation, while MIA says it will be placing great emphasis on enhancing the passenger experience and the sharing of a distinct ‘sense of place’.

 

“The terminal planning elements incorporate a more natural and effective passenger journey through the terminal, thereby enhancing passenger flow and exposure to the retail and F&B offers,” said MIA.

 

The airside and landside developments will involve the introduction of new retail and catering units for both departing and arriving passengers.

 

‘CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT, HERITAGE AND NATURAL BEAUTY OF MALTA’

The plan also aims to improve the amount of natural light coming into the terminal and incorporates a distinct sense of the location, ‘celebrating the spirit, heritage and natural beauty of Malta’.

The airport’s investment programme also incorporates new 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.

 

Supported by airport design and planning experts The Design Solution and consultants Pragma, the €100million development reaches comprehensively across all aspects of the airport’s operations and every touchpoint in the passenger journey.

 

 

Alan Borg, CEO, MIA, outlined the airport’s long-term development vision: “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.

 

‘A SUPERIOR F&B AN RETAIL OFFERING’

“The Terminal Expansion Project will equip us with the capacity to handle further traffic growth and enable us to offer a 5-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.”

Graeme Johns, Director, The Design Solution, outlined the architectural plan at MIA: “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.”

 

MIA registered passenger growth of 7.4% in 2019 (7.31m), 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’, said the airport operator.