Cairns International Airport Redevelopment Project, Queensland, Australia

Cairns International Airport is the fifth-busiest airport in Australia (largest regional airport in the country) and forms the gateway to the tropical area of North Queensland and the Barrier Reef (shores of the Coral Sea).

The airport is situated around 7km (four miles) north of Cairns and serves the area between Mount Whitfield and Trinity Bay with international, domestic and general aviation services (including helicopter operators and the Royal Flying Doctor service).

The airport, which operates 24 hours a day, is managed and operated by the Cairns Port Authority, whcih have committed A$250m to developing the airport over the next five years. Cairns, a major hub for Qantas, operates flights to the main Australian cities (major tourist destinations) and international destinations in the Asian-Pacific region. Virgin Blue and Jetstar also operate from the airport.

Anna Bligh, Deputy Premier of Queensland, commented: "The domestic market is the bread and butter for the tourism industry and is crucial to the economy of far north Queensland." In the 2006/07 financial year the revenue for the airport came to A$71.3m.

CAIRNS AIRPORT FACILITIES

There are two terminal buildings on the east side of the airport in separate buildings and also an air traffic control tower. The airport has two runways the north-south runway is 3,196m (10,486ft) and the smaller runway for general aviation is 925m (3,035ft).

The airport handles three million passengers and 130,000 aircraft movements a year. It is responsible for the maintenance of 30,000 jobs and also contributes A$2bn a year to the economy. The new Boeing 787 is expected to operate from Cairns Airport in the near future.

TERMINAL REDEVELOPMENT

The airport began an extensive terminal redevelopment project in August 2007, which is expected to be completed by 2010. The project is currently centred on the domestic terminal and is expected to require an investment of A$200m.

The terminal is being extended to the south and the old Qantas baggage collection area (new Qantas arrivals is now temporarily in the north of the terminal) is being developed into a new common user check-in area. There are also upgrade projects to road infrastructure and car park areas.

The project will include: new security and passenger handling technology, new baggage screening technology, expansion of baggage handling, self-service check-in terminals and common check-in areas for all the airlines based at the airport, new retail outlets and refurbishment of others, five new aerobridges for all aircraft and new access roads, car parks and pedestrian walkways. The result of the project will be a fully refurbished facility with state-of-the-art facilities.

CONTRACTOR

The major contractor for the terminal redevelopment project is Hansen Yuncken who was awarded a A$148m contract for the project in 2007. Airport operations have not been inconvenienced by the construction activity.

Cairns Port Authority CEO Neil Quinn commented: "It is easy to underestimate the amount of planning and effort that is required just to get a project like this off the ground.

"The level of knowledge and expertise of our staff and development consultants has ensured that Cairns Airport can continue to function as a business and tourism gateway while construction activity goes relatively unabated."

The Nuance Group has extended an agreement with the Cairns Port Authority to develop a new concept duty free shop in the new retail area in the domestic terminal (there is also a new lease to 2011).

UPGRADE OF CAIRNS AIRPORT SECURITY

In 2005-2006 a project was awarded to Connell Wagner for an upgrade project at Cairns airport. The contract worth A$50m brought the airport up to required Australian Government standards for 100% checked bag screening of all international baggage.

This involved a complete baggage handling upgrade and a major western extension to the international terminal. Additional projects included a new international terminal building loading dock, a second water supply to the airport, fire services upgrade and electrical services upgrade.

The eastern concourse of the international terminal building was also extended which will service gate one and will introduce new aerobridge facilities.