Belfast International Airport opens £25M terminal extension in major £100M investment programme

Belfast International Airport has opened a new terminal extension, marking the completion of the first phase of its £100M, five-year investment programme.

The development, led by the multidisciplinary design team at Mott MacDonald includes a next-generation security hall, a 1600 sqm duty-free store and a revamped external forecourt, significantly enhancing the passenger experience at Northern Ireland’s busiest airport.

Mott MacDonald delivered the detailed design of the two-storey terminal extension to create a new security screening area replacing the existing eight-lane security hall within the terminal, to meet the UK Dept of Transport’s mandated introduction of C3 cabin baggage scanners and full body scanners.

The complete development totalled over 7400 sqm which included over 2000sqm of internal refurbishment within the existing terminal to create new commercial units, car hire desks, staff offices and accommodation, and a walk-through duty free shell and core within the existing security hall. The project also included external public realm improvements to create a new vibrant and welcoming entrance. The improvements also included a new taxi rank, coach parking and reconfigured service yard.   

Mott MacDonald provided project management services as part of the overall project delivery, while its architecture team acted as the lead design consultant. It also provided a multi-disciplinary design team to deliver the project management services; structural, civil and geotechnical engineering; mechanical and electrical, plus fire engineering. It also led as sustainability & BREEAM consultant, and handled the life cycle assessment & embodied carbon detailing; and finally all health and safety elements.

The formal inauguration was attended by Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly.

The airport, a critical hub for both tourism and the regional economy, supports over 4,000 jobs and handled nearly seven million passengers last year.

Derek Burnside, Belfast office lead at Mott MacDonald said: “We have brought our decades of experience in delivery of critical airport infrastructure to bear on this project, ensuring Belfast International Airport is fit for the future. We have also designed the extension using standardised components and materials that will be adopted in all future projects, which over time will unify the overall aesthetic of the airport.”

Belfast International Airport CEO Dan Owens reflected on the milestone, saying: “When we started this process around two years ago, we were focused on our goal to transform the passenger experience at Belfast International Airport. Today we can say we have made significant progress in achieving that goal. As the economic driver for this region in terms of economic development and tourism growth we are committed to further enhancing the passenger experience while also working with our airline partners to develop our network of routes.”