One of Greece’s most popular islands, Mykonos, which is known for drawing in celebrities and socialites from all around the world, is receiving a huge makeover at its busy airport and by 2021 will boast a series of significant upgrades including a new terminal, arrivals area, more gates, two new VIP lounges and a new automated luggage handling system.
“We are unveiling – what I believe is – a bold statement of avant garde, a radical new approach to airport design which I believe is only possible on Mykonos,” said Fraport Greece CEO Alexander Zinell while presenting the new architectural design of Mykonos Airport at an event held on the island on Monday.
The makeover is said to cost 25 million euros when completed and the revamped airport is expected to fully operate in 2021, meeting the high demands of the “brand name” that Mykonos has developed into.
“We knew that Mykonos was not just a destination but a brand name,” Zinell said, underlining that Fraport’s plans for the airport’s revamp are very close to the “true spirit” of the popular Greek island.
Fraport Greece has already made a series of upgrades on an operational level at the airport, while construction works are currently in progress.
As revealed during the presentation this week, the airport’s “new face” will combine modern architecture with the traditional style of the Cyclades and its improvements will increase both service quality and capacity.
Carried out by K-STUDIO and BETAPLAN, the architectural design of the airport was a “challenge”, considering that since 1971 the facilities have been going through repeated expansions, according to Fraport Greece.
Currently, the number of passengers traveling through the airport per year amount to some 1.4 million with a growth rate of over 13 percent. By 2026, it is expected for the airport to be able to serve some two million passengers.
During peak season, the airport is said to receive 200 aircraft per day (arriving and departing).
Fraport Greece’s plans for the development of Mykonos airport include the extension of a total area of 2000m2 to the northern side of the existing building that will host the airport’s new arrivals area.
Check-in counters will increase from 14 to 16 while one additional boarding gate will be added to the airport, bringing the number of gates up to seven.
All airport areas will be completely remodeled and refurbished, including the existing sanitary facilities and new retail and F&B areas will be added.
Plans also include the creation of two new VIP lounges and the redesigning of the entire curbside area.
Meanwhile, the installation of a new automated luggage handling system is said to be one of the most important changes the new airport will have.
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*Source: GTPHeadlines