With strikes, delays, cancellations and long security queues, you might just have failed to notice the changes at various UK airports. Yet many of our air hubs have been trying to alleviate our terminal pain with better airside spaces, shopping and streamlined security checks.
If you’ve checked out Heathrow Terminal 4 recently you’ll have noticed the unsung £200 million refurbishment that greets passengers in the wake of British Airways’ scurrying away to Terminal 5.
Terminal 4 is now a brighter, lighter environment, greeting SkyTeam customers with what is undoubtedly a better experience from check-in to boarding.
Or there’s Birmingham International airport which now has a new Emirates lounge that opened this month at Terminal 1. The Dubai-based airline has invested £1.3 million in a 7,000-square-foot facility, which is the only dedicated lounge offered by a long-haul airline at the airport.
Paul Kehoe, chief executive of Birmingham International, says: “This significant investment demonstrates the continuing commitment Emirates has in Birmingham and the Midlands region.”
The lounge has seating for more than 100 people, with a large number of leather armchairs, a plasma screen showing the latest news, and full shower facilities. It is situated in Birmingham’s new international pier, which opened last year. This follows on from an even larger Emirates lounge that opened in Manchester airport last October.
But these are not the only regional airports expanding their facilities.
Newquay Cornwall airport now has an executive lounge for business passengers, while Bournemouth airport is opening a new terminal. Its £45 million investment will double the size of its departures building and treble the amount of retail and catering space.
The terminal will be fully operational from late spring, though the exact dates has yet to be confirmed. The runway has been re-surfaced and there is also more space to park aircraft close to the terminal building. A Twitter account and a Facebook fan-page have been set up to provide updates on the new developments.
For the launch, the airport will run a competition for travel agents giving them the chance to win a makeover and £250 in shopping vouchers to spend at the terminal’s new World Duty Free store, as well as a meal at one of the airport’s eateries.
Other airports are also focusing on the travel trade, including Liverpool John Lennon, Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield and Durham Tees Valley airports.
Peel Airports, which operates these three airports, has set up websites to provide information and support for agents. Kate Waiton, sales manager at Peel Airport Group says: “The websites include interactive maps, details of destinations with a downloadable quick reference flight guide, and a range of promotional materials including top 10 deals, customer enquiry forms and brochure flyers.”
Head south and you will see that £7 million is being invested in beefing up Southampton airport’s offering this year. The airport’s restaurant and cafe in the main concourse are being refurbished. The first new landside restaurant and a Costa Coffee outlet have been completed, and the airside outlets will reopen before the summer.
This year is also a landmark year for Bristol airport as it celebrates its 80th anniversary by unveiling a new brand identity.
It is also pushing for a £150 million redevelopment with the aim of catering for 10 million passengers by 2020. This would create more than 3,000 jobs, injecting money into the local economy. The scheme includes expanding the existing terminal and a new public transport interchange.
In the shorter term, a state-of-the-art tax and duty-free store will be opening in the spring, with regional products showcased in a Best of the West range.
Meanwhile, the UK’s third-busiest airport, Stansted, last month opened a pay-as-you-visit business lounge for Ryanair customers. The No. 1 Lounge, located opposite Ryanair departure gates, has free Wi-Fi, a bar, food, business facilities, newspapers and magazines. It costs £17.50 per visit and can be booked online.
Phil Cameron, founder of the No.1 Group, says: “We recognise that 60% of passengers flying from Stansted travel with Ryanair, and we are pleased to be the first company to serve these passengers.”
This article appeared in a special aviation-themed issue of Travel Weekly edited by Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway
UK Airports: News in brief
Birmingham’s £13m plan
Birmingham airport is embarking on a £13 million investment to merge its two terminals in a bid to improve passenger flow and make the airport more efficient. The development is due to be completed by May 2011.
Glasgow woos business
Glasgow airport last month launched a promotion to encourage more business travellers to use the Scottish airport. The Glasgow Gateway initiative includes a package of incentives such as fast-track parking and security, and lounge access.
Luton in the fast lane
Luton airport has introduced a priority lane through security. The Priority Lane experience can be purchased on the airport’s website for £3. There is also priority parking at the airport so business passengers can get valet treatment at the front of the terminal.
Heathrow adds scanners
Body-scanning equipment has been introduced at Heathrow’s Terminal 4 as part of the government’s move to further strengthen security. The technology can detect concealed items.
Edinburgh’s £3m upgrade
Edinburgh airport is upgrading and improving its facilities. The £3 million investment will see a new security hall and upgraded departure lounge open this year.
East Midlands eco ‘first’
East Midlands airport is one step closer to becoming carbon neutral. It is trialling an airport transfer bus powered by bio-methane – a world first. The bus uses gas produced by the decomposition of organic waste. In the coming months the airport also plans to install new wind turbines on-site.
Heathrow photo show
A new exhibition by photographer Henry Reichhold has opened at Heathrow Terminal 5. The installation features vast panoramas of two cities, Mumbai and Dubai, taken using a mobile phone.
Survey: Beware of car parking charges
At some UK airports you can end up paying as much to park your car as for the holiday.
Travellers are being urged to book in advance, especially for the Easter break, to avoid getting stung by painful charges. Doing so could save your clients more than £300 during this period.
A study commissioned by Travelsupermarket.com shows that for an eight-day stay from April 3 your clients will have to pay an average of £158 to use short-stay car parks.
That’s the average across 23 UK airports. The most expensive is the short-stay zone at Heathrow, which charges £375. At Blackpool, however, it is free.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at Travelsupermarket, says: “Prices can vary considerably up and down the country, even at the same airport. This could leave travellers with a nasty surprise – and a hole in their pocket.”
Choosing the long-stay option or buying early-bird rates and online offers are the best ways to reduce charges, according to the survey.
