Media Release - Dunedin International Airport Limited
30 May 2006
New International Arrival and Departure Areas Commissioned
Passengers on a Freedom Air flight from Sydney early tomorrow afternoon will be the first to pass through the Dunedin
International Airport's new international arrival and departure areas.
Contractors have been putting the final touches to the 4,000sqm international section of the terminal redevelopment
which features all-new customs, immigration and biosecurity screening areas as well as new duty free stores and
passengers lounges.
"This commissioning of what is stage three of the project is as another exciting step forward for the redevelopment,"
says Dunedin International Airport Limited (DIAL) Chief Executive John McCall.
"It means that international passengers will now experience more of the real benefits of the redevelopment," he says.
"They will have far more comfortable and enjoyable surroundings than in the past, with a spacious passenger lounge and
the new retail areas."
There will be two new duty-free stores in the international terminal, one in the departure area and another in arrivals,
offering about four-times as much retail space as in the old terminal.
"They will be significant stores and a big improvement on what we've had before in terms of convenience, customer
friendliness and a hugely expanded product range," says Mr McCall
Both are walk-through stores so all passengers will pass through them on their way to and from the plane. The arrivals
store has been placed after passport control and before customs so passengers can relax and enjoy some duty-free
shopping while waiting for their baggage.
International passengers will continue to go to the check-in hall used by both domestic and international travellers and
use the same passenger screening area upstairs before being diverted into the new international departure areas.
Mr McCall says there are a few changes to come in the baggage claim area where the conveyor system has to be switched
over, a process that will take about two weeks.
"There will be a few other small changes but everything should be functioning as it is meant to by late June."
Meanwhile, the rental car companies have moved into their new booths after operating out of portacom offices since the
main section of the new terminal was opened at the end of September last year.
Mr McCall says Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget and Europcar all have their own booths and there is a sixth shared booth for
other smaller operators.
There will be some minor changes to traffic arrangements outside the terminal in terms of pick-ups and drop-offs and
drivers are advised to keep an eye on the signs and follow instructions from airport staff.
The finishing touches are being put to the refurbished administration offices and DIAL staff will move into those about
mid-June. The changes include new amenities, such as a cafeteria area to be used by all airport staff.
Stage four of the terminal redevelopment will involve converting the previous international arrivals building into a
baggage make-up and screening area behind check-in. That work is due to be completed in late September.
An official opening for the new terminal is planned for October.
ENDS