Cork terminal set for June opening

Joe Bates

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Aer Rianta Retail and HMS Host head the line-up at the new Irish terminal

Cork airport's delayed new €160m ($204.3m) terminal is finally scheduled to open next month.
 
It will be able to handle 3m passengers a year and is the first major upgrade to the regional Irish airport since it opened in the late 1950s. Cork airport is one of the fastest growing regional airports in Europe—traffic has increased over 300% in the past six years and on course to exceed 3m in 2006.
 
The 28,000sq m (301,280sq ft) split-level building is three times the size of the existing structure and will boast 3,500sq m (37,660sq ft) of retail and catering space.
 
Aer Rianta Retail will operate the main 900sq m (9,984sq ft) duty-free and Travel Value store, while HMS Host has a 10-year contract to operate a range of F&B outlets, which includes a food court styled on Cork's famous English market, a bar and two cafés. HMS Host expects to generate sales of over €100m ($127.7m) over the duration of the contract.
 
Completing the F&B line up, fast food chain Subway will open its first restaurant at an Irish airport selling freshly made baguettes.
 
Irish bookseller Hughes & Hughes will operate two bookshops at the terminal, one in arrivals and one in departures, selling a wide range of paperback and hardback books, magazines and local, national and international newspapers. Passengers will be able to choose a book and have it delivered to the airport shop free of charge and collect it before travelling.
 
Independent Irish convenience store chain Londis will open a 1,300sq ft (120sq m) shop located near the check-in area, offering a range of drinks and snacks.
 
Construction began on the terminal in mid-2003 and was originally scheduled for completion by last summer. The Dublin Airport Authority, which retains responsibility for the airport, has blamed the delay on construction issues.