Munich Airport in Germany has announced that it will begin commissioning its new Terminal 2 (T2) Satellite facility on April 26, 2016. The new building will boost T2’s capacity by 11 million allowing it to cater for 36 million passengers annually.
Planned works for the three months prior to commissioning include the installation of technical equipment and interior work in the retail and dining areas; moving businesses into the new stores; and conducting 20 days of testing to simulate all passenger handling processes. The T2 Satellite testing stage will involve 2,800 test travelers and 500 extras to play the role of airline passengers. The tests will evaluate several aspects of the new facility such as boarding, transiting and wayfinding.
Munich Airport and airline operator Lufthansa are jointly responsible for the satellite’s construction as part of a 60:40 joint venture. Munich-based architectural firm Koch + Partner, which designed T2, was again selected for the design and general planning of the satellite. The new facility will give Munich Airport 27 new gate positions where passengers can board aircraft directly without bus transportation.
The midfield terminal is the first of its kind at a German airport. It has no public access as check-in takes place in T2. Passengers then undergo passport screening and hand baggage checks before boarding an underground personal transport system that will take them to the satellite terminal in less than a minute. There they will find the full range of services and passenger handling facilities as well as extensive shopping and dining options.
Image courtesy of Munich Airport