EXETERAirport is planning to build a £20m terminal to cope with its expanding charter and scheduled traffic.
The 2m-passenger capacity terminal will replace the existing facility by 2008. Technical manager Mike Foster said the terminal was needed due to expected growth.
“The terminal will be fully operational by 2008 but current growth is more than we expect so it may even open by 2006,” said Foster.
He said the airport will handle 320,000 passengers this year, a 70,000 rise on the 1998/1999 financial year. Foster predicted that some 600,000 customers would use the airport in six years’ time.
Funding for the terminal is yet to be decided by owner Devon County Council. Foster said the council could look towards private funding or grants from Europe. He did not rule out the council selling off the airport to attract investors.
The airport’s main scheduled airline is the home-based Jersey European Airways. JEA offers flights to Dublin, Jersey, Guernsey and its hub Birmingham, from where it offers UK, Irish and mainland European connections.
Exeter also has some charter operations, notably with Air 2000 to Europe and Canada. Traffic is split 60/40 in favour of charters.
Foster confirmed the airport was talking to JEA about additional European flights.
Investment is to be also made on road access to the new A30 dual-carriageway to Exeter.