Nadi Airport’s major upgrade
Tourists arrive at Nadi International Airport. Photo: Courtesy of AIRPORTS FIJI LIMITED
Initial plans are now being developed on a multi-million dollar upgrade of the Nadi International Airport terminal.
This has been revealed through Airports Fiji Limited’s official newsletter, Runway News.
Special emphasis would be on new and improved passenger facilities such as retail shopping and dining. The work is expected to be completed by mid-April next year.
Airports Fiji Limited (AFL) chief executive Tony Gollin said the urgency of the upgrade aligned well with the recent Government decree that has cancelled all present concessionaires’ contracts for a twelve month period, while new contracts are either entered into or tendered out, based on the upgraded facilities.
Many of the changes would be integrated into a new, larger departure lounge extending out to the edge of the passenger walkways that provide access to and from departing or arriving aircraft.
“This will give us substantially more space to redesign the entire area and introduce a diversified shopping experience with a range of food outlets selling food freshly prepared on the premises,” Mr Gollin said.
He said the changes would also improve passenger facilitation by creating more space for passengers to be comfortably processed when arriving or departing from Nadi.
“The baggage hall will also be expanded to create more capacity to manage arriving flights,” he said.
“This will give us room to introduce another baggage carousel as well as provide the necessary space for customs and biosecurity functions.”
Mr Gollin stressed a significant and progressively major source of income for AFL was through its commercial activities at the airport.
“They are vital to the financial health of the company and, in turn, bolster AFL’s broader activities to support developments at Nausori Airport and the 13 outer island airports AFL manages on behalf of the Government,” he said.
The proposed changes are believed to create a much better environment for all stakeholders.
“Ultimately it will be our visitors to Fiji who will benefit, enjoying an international shopping and food experience in surroundings that would be world-class, and a fitting first and last impression of the country at Nadi International Airport,” he said.
Mr Gollin said when he joined AFL six months ago, he was impressed with the company’s aspirational vision to be ‘the best small airport in the world’.
“With this new development, we are well on the path towards achieving this vision,” he said.
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