The terminal expansion at Queenstown Airport doubled international and domestic departure capacity when it opened yesterday, after four months of construction.
Departing international passengers will flow through security, customs and the duty-free shop, to arrive in the new 570sq m carpeted hall, with hundreds of seats. The facility has two gates at the disposal of all airlines, allocated space for additional security screening, and emigration lanes when required. A relocated cafe and adjacent expanded newsagent, with northeast-facing floor-to-ceiling windows, provides views of the Remarkables.
Electrical sockets for passengers to charge their personal devices are installed in the walls and the airport's free public Wi-Fi coverage has been extended to include the hall.
The mezzanine floor contains the new Air New Zealand Koru Lounge, to be officially reopened next Thursday.
"For both domestic and international passengers [the lounge extension] gives a lot more capacity and comfort," Queenstown Airport chief executive Scott Paterson said on Wednesday.
"The extra terminal space has been designed to be very flexible ... at Queenstown Airport we often have several domestic flights leaving within a short period.
"At these times we will be able to 'swing lounges' and use the new international lounge for departing domestic passengers."
The hall was part of Project 2012, a $4.2 million extension plan designed to help meet the demands of increasing passenger numbers at the airport.
Already completed as part of the project were the installation of new oversize baggage conveyers, in both the international and domestic reclaim areas, and the extension of the toilet block in the main concourse.
A new toilet complex, next to the baggage reclaim area, is expected to be completed by October.
