Passengers arriving at Bournemouth Airport are now welcomed through a new arrivals and immigration hall, marking the latest milestone in a major upgrade programme.
The new facility has doubled the number of Border Force passport control desks and tripled the available floor space, allowing for faster processing and more comfort for passengers.
It forms part of a £17 million investment this year to enhance the airport experience, which has already included doubling check-in desk capacity and upgrading the outbound baggage system. The next phase, due for completion this autumn, will see an expanded baggage reclaim hall with larger carousels.
Managing Director Steve Gill said the opening “marks another significant step in the transformation of Bournemouth Airport”, adding that the changes are already improving the experience for passengers, airlines and staff.
Further upgrades will include an extended terminal building and a new transport interchange designed to improve access for buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians.
The airport, which serves forty-eight destinations and welcomed 1.1 million passengers in the year to March, directly employs around four hundred and fifty staff at peak times. In total, more than three and a half thousand jobs are linked to the airport and neighbouring Aviation Business Park, one of Dorset’s largest employment areas.
A further two hundred and thirty jobs are expected to be created as part of the airport’s continuing investment programme.
