Adelaide Airport’s original international terminal building will be demolished to make way for new development including a new taxi drop-off zone and a forecourt for the Atura Hotel. It will also provide room for future proposed terminal expansion works at the Australian airport.
The old international terminal building was replaced by the current terminal in 2005 and has solely been used for arrivals by Regional Express Airlines (REX).
The demolition of the building will create space for a new dedicated taxi drop-off facility adjacent to the main terminal. This will provide an alternative to the existing drop-off zone under the parking lot – significantly freeing up space for other drivers.
Meanwhile, the hotel forecourt construction works are part of the new seven-story hotel being developed under Event’s Atura brand. It will feature a restaurant and bar, a business center, flexible meeting spaces plus a coach gate for guest drop-off and collection. A walkway will directly link the hotel with the airport’s Level 2 domestic and international check-in area.
Mark Young, managing director, Adelaide Airport, said, “Creating a new dedicated taxi drop facility adjacent to the terminal frees up space in our existing drop-off zone for other users. We’ve spent more than A$8m (US$6.3m) on taxi facilities over the past decade and we’re now investing a further A$4m (US$3.2m) in new facilities.
“The opening of the original international terminal in 1982 heralded the arrival of the first international flights to Adelaide,” added Young. “It was always meant to be a temporary facility with just the one aerobridge, and was variously described as ‘utilitarian’ and ‘a tin shed’.
“It quickly outgrew itself but it took another 23 years before it was replaced by the current terminal. It has played a key role in South Australia’s aviation history, but we’re excited that we’re moving on to bigger and better things for our customers.”