Wedoany.com Report-May 17, Belfast International Airport in Northern Ireland has unveiled a £25m ($33.2m) terminal extension, marking a key achievement in the initial phase of its £100m five-year investment plan. The two-storey extension, designed by Mott MacDonald, a consultancy specializing in engineering, management, and development, enhances the airport’s facilities to improve passenger experience.

The move forms part of the airport’s £100m five-year investment programme.

The new development features a modern security hall, a 1,600m² duty-free store, and a reconfigured external forecourt. To meet the UK Department of Transport’s requirements, the project replaced the existing eight-lane security hall with an upgraded screening area equipped with C3 cabin baggage scanners and full-body scanners. Spanning 7,400m², the project includes over 2,000m² of internal refurbishment within the existing terminal, introducing new commercial units, car hire desks, staff offices, and a walk-through duty-free area integrated into the security hall.

External enhancements include a new entrance, taxi rank, coach parking, and a redesigned service yard, improving accessibility and convenience. Mott MacDonald provided comprehensive project management services, with its architecture team leading the design and its multidisciplinary team handling structural, civil, and geotechnical engineering. The firm also focused on sustainability, conducting Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method consulting, life cycle assessments, and embodied carbon detailing to ensure environmental responsibility.

Derek Burnside, Mott MacDonald’s Belfast office lead, stated: “We have brought our decades of experience in delivery of critical airport infrastructure to bear on this project, ensuring Belfast International Airport is fit for the future.” He highlighted the use of standardized components and materials in the design, which will create a cohesive aesthetic for future airport projects.

Belfast International Airport CEO Dan Owens commented: “When we started this process around two years ago, we were focused on our goal to transform the passenger experience at Belfast International Airport. Today we can say we have made significant progress in achieving that goal.” He emphasized the airport’s role as a driver of economic development and tourism, with plans to further enhance passenger services and expand its network of routes in collaboration with airline partners.

The project aligns with broader regional development efforts, as evidenced by Mott MacDonald’s involvement in other initiatives. In November 2024, the firm, alongside Jacobs, was selected by England’s West Yorkshire Combined Authority as the Design Development Partner for the next phase of the West Yorkshire Mass Transit Programme.