ITALY. Milan Bergamo Airport is expanding its facilities with a €450 million investment, as part of its 2030 development plan. The funding will increase the terminal in size to 70,000sq m, and will include an extended commercial area.
In January work began on an expansion to the terminal, which will take two years to complete. It includes an extension to the western side of the existing building, with this development also preparing the airport for a direct connection to railway services in the future, increasing connectivity options for passengers.
The first future phase to be completed will be a new non-Schengen departures area, scheduled for opening by June 2020. It will host ten new gates on two floors, substituting the current area with five, and an extended commercial area. Also, a new business lounge will be created with this eastern extension, which will be four times bigger than the existing airside lounge.
SACBO is the operator of Milan Bergamo. Director of Commercial Aviation Giacomo Cattaneo said: “The start of works on expanding the terminal building confirms the airport’s commitment and desire to invest in infrastructure and improve service, creating a major international gateway for the region.
“The airport has invested millions of euros in improving its facilities, and the reaction from passengers to the initial phases, which have now opened, has been positive as passenger satisfaction remains at the heart of our plans.”
Among the initial phases of the reconfigured terminal is a new check-in area and investments have also been made airside, with a new family zone in the departure lounge opening soon.
Cattaneo said: “We have changed our check-in facilities in order to improve the passenger experience. The changes in the area have created more room, and have been done in a creative and sustainable way within the current terminal building infrastructure.”
The number of people flying from Milan Bergamo increased by 2.5% in January against the corresponding month last year. This follows on from a record-breaking 2018, when the airport handled 12.94 million passengers.
