Malaga Airport New Terminal Building, Costa Del Sol, Spain

Malaga Airport is probably one of the best known airports in Europe. It is the main international airport serving the Costa del Sol in Spain, which is a major summer tourist destination. The airport is ideally situated for this purpose, being located just 8km southwest of Malaga and 5km north of Torremolinos, two popular resort and hotel locations.

The airport facilities currently include one asphalt paved runway (13/31 10,500ft, 3,200m) – although a second runway is currently under construction and will be open by 2010 – and two terminal buildings (a third terminal and car park building is currently under construction adjacent to the existing two and will be completed by 2008).

The airport is managed by Aena, the Spanish Airports and Aerial Navigation Authority and Aeropuerto de Málaga and is currently undergoing major expansion works to prepare it for the expected increase in passenger numbers towards 2015 (20 million per year). However some commentators believe that AENA have got their estimates wrong and by the time the new terminal is ready the airport will be handling beyond the 2015 estimates and will need extending again (estimates are that the airport will be handling over 24 million passengers by 2020).

The airport received over 13 million passengers during 2006 (13,076,252). Passenger numbers have increased significantly from around 6.6 million in 1996. The airport is a major tourist hub in Spain and receives flights from over 60 countries worldwide. The busiest routes are from within Europe, particularly to and from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

INVESTMENT

Malaga is the fourth biggest airport in Spain, absorbing 7.3% of national passenger traffic. Between 2004 and 2010 it will have an investment of €890m spent on it in addition to the €75m invested between 1996 and 2003. In 2006 and 2007 alone, the Ministry for Public Works plans to invest more than €530m in the airport.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

The airport has a number of car parks available for passengers to use; however while the expansion work is going on AENA have requested that to avoid delays and congestion passengers opt to use train and bus services in preference to their cars.

The airport has a well developed public transport system with the Cercanías–Málaga train serving the airport directly from Malaga city centre and Fuengirola. There is also an airport coach on a direct route to Marbella bus station.

In addition, the number 19 bus run by EMTSAM (Empresa Malagueña de Transportes) runs a service to Malaga bus station and the city centre from both terminals 1 and 2.

CURRENT FACILITIES

Following the first terminal building opening in 1972 the airport became a popular hub for package holiday passengers. In 1991, the Pablo Ruiz Picasso terminal was opened (Terminal 2). This was designed by the Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill, and was constructed to be operated in combination with Terminal 1.

Terminal 2 hosts a large check-in concourse with a long row of check-in desks running left to right. After passengers check-in they have to go beyond the check-in desks themselves to access the security areas instead of having to 'back-track' on themselves meaning that the check-in concourse is less congested.

Once beyond the security check point passengers can then make use of the airport's extensive facilities, including duty free shopping and a number of restaurants. Mainland European flights depart from Pier B and UK and Ireland flights depart from Pier C.

Further airport development in the 1990s included: conversion of the old passenger building into a general aviation terminal; a new hangar for large aircraft maintenance being constructed to the north of the airport site and a new cargo terminal. A new 54m control tower was opened in 2002 (constructed by Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC)).

TERMINAL DESIGN

The new developments will include a third terminal and car park and a second runway. The new terminal design is based on the dimensions and shapes, already used in the existing terminal, but the colours and materials have been adapted to current trends. The aim is to create holistic airport architecture that meets the requirements for identity.

The concept design allows for reduced occupancy of apron space, better protection of the tower area and landside from noise, improved security and expansion to the north-east areas of the terminal when the second runway and double-taxiway-link between the runways are finished. One of the design basic concepts was the use of natural daylight and landscaping elements even in the basement level.

Dedicated areas have been factored in for short-term parking requirements adjacent to the departure and arrival level. The new car park building was initially designed with five floors, but it was then decided to add two more floors to provide an additional 600 parking spaces in view of increasing passenger numbers. The extended airport will now have a total of 3,000 new parking spaces along with underground parking for 66 coaches.

CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS

In 2000, Bovis Lend Lease was appointed for a one-year contract to consult on the expansion of Malaga Airport. Bovis Lend Lease is now providing technical assistance as a consultant for the expansion programme which is scheduled to be completed by 2010.

Bovis has taken on the objectives for the project and is working as an integrated team with the other technicians involved in the project. Bovis will be responsible for planning, control and updating of programme, operational analysis, technical assistance and project management.

The project includes the new runway construction and platforms, new terminal building, exterior works, accesses and transport systems including a new multi-storey car park, Airport Baggage Handling System (ABHS) and Automated People Mover (APM), energy systems, aircraft supply installations and integration with public transport.

W&P Architects Engineers are responsible for the design and construction of the new terminal building. Burks Green Architects and Engineers are responsible for the design and planning of the new runway, taxiways and apron areas in conjunction with Aertec of Spain (lighting and power plants).