"On the 10th of June, Gordon Bajnai, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary, dr. Peter Noé, member of the Executive Board of Directors of HOCHTIEF AG, dr. Reinhard Kalenda, the chairman of Budapest Airport Zrt. (BA) and Jost Lammers, the CEO of BA ceremoniously laid the foundation stone of the SkyCourt, the new terminal building at Ferihegy Airport.The construction of the SkyCourt was awarded to Szeged-based building contractors KÉSZ Építő Zrt. in a public procurement procedure worth about 200 million euros. Budapest Airport would like to commission certain parts of the new SkyCourt at the end of 2010. The new terminal facility will offer increased comfort and speed up travel. It will also be a landmark building that all Hungarians can be proud of.
The Sky Court will be built in between the existing Terminals 2A and 2B. The project involves the construction of 40 000 square meters of new terminal areas and the renovation of 55 000 square meters of existing facilities.
Terminal 2 reached its capacity limit during the summer peak seasons in recent years. Thus, the development, also prescribed by the privatization contract, has become inevitable. The SkyCourt entails the construction of a number of facilities that will enable speedier and more comfortable passenger handling:
* 28 new passenger security screening channels,
* 50 new border crossing points,
* 21 new boarding gates,
* 80 new check-in counters,
* 16 new self-check-in kiosks.
On the departure level located on the ground floor of the SkyCourt, visitors will be welcomed by a large selection of shops, with restaurants, cafés and bars on the mezzanine level. Retail space at Terminal 2 will be doubled following the full commissioning of the new facility.
Huge windows, modern architectural solutions and breathtaking views will ensure that the SkyCourt will enthrall all visitors, and, together with Terminal 1, the winner of the Europa Nostra architectural award, offer standards worthy of Hungary’s aerial gateway.
“This is the most significant event of the year,” confirmed BA CEO Jost Lammers after the laying of the foundation stone. “It heralds the start of works that will define the life of Ferihegy Airport for decades to come. The investment also means that, in spite of the global economic crisis and all other difficulties, Budapest Airport continues to deliver on its commitments, and presses ahead with the development of Ferihegy.”
Source: Budapest Airport
16.06.2009