Delays dog new Adelaide retail offer

Gavin Lipsith

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A leak in the airport's underground refuelling system continues to affect outlets hoping to open at Adelaide's new terminal

The retail offer at Adelaide airport's new terminal has yet to open fully following a leak in the underground refuelling system which prevented domestic carriers from moving into the facility when it opened on October 15 (see DFNI November 1). The problems have resulted in several of the 35 shops at the new terminal from opening.

Following the leak the airport anticipated that the terminal would be fully operational by November 9, but tests are continuing and domestic carriers are yet to make the move to the $260m facility. Adelaide managing director Phil Baker said that he hoped the tests would be completed soon and that domestic airlines would move into the terminal shortly.

Shops already open at the terminal's 3,400sq m (36,585sq ft) commercial area include NewsLink bookstores, Travelex currency exchange outlets and three stores operated by Duty Free Stores New Zealand. Passenger traffic at the terminal has been running at 80% below expectations since it opened.