The Almería airport is set to inaugurate the expansion of their building in 2010, the most important transformation completed since its construction in the sixties. The second phase of the new terminal's construction begins in June after the new departures building is finished. The completion of the first phase signifies the operational functionality of various services which have significantly improved the airport's operations.

The expansion incorporates materials indigenous to the province, such as white Macael marble, with the intention of allowing the airport's patrons to appreciate the most emblematic products of Almería upon arrival.

The ambitious project at the Almería airport, focusing on the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the section of the terminal that dates back to the sixties, will result in a significant transformation of the building. The project will impart modernity and functionality to its numerous visitors.

In the construction of the new building traditional white Macael marble has been used. This highlights the luminosity of the white wall-covering this material provides and creates a sensation of great size, cleanliness, and beauty. Because of the infinite possibilities for use, this white marble transmits nothing but the best qualities through its renowned elegance and nobility. In addition, Silestone, limestone, and granite have been employed.

In recognition of this use of natural stone in the project, the Andalucian Association of Marble Producers recognized the project during the 15th Edition of the Macael Prizes, celebrated last November. The business association has awarded the National Prize for Projects to the New Building of the Almería Airport Terminal for the use of white Macael marble.

Each year, the Macael Prizes bring together all those persons and institutions who have helped to promote the natural stone industry in Spain and abroad.

Project

The author of the airport expansion project is the technical aeronautics engineer Jesús García Gómez, of the engineering company EPTISA, and the head design architect is Luis García Gil, of the Arkitools, S.L. studio. Additionally, to ensure that a project of this magnitude becomes reality, a team of technicians from the company Aena has collaborated on the expansion project, and is responsible for preparing the building applications for the project and the work.

The expansion of the Almería airport terminal building consists of various architectural feats, and consists of two levels, each an expansion of 3,100 square meters.

A new check-in area is located on the street level, with 27 check-in counters (ten new counters added to the existing seventeen). In this way, the airport will be adding the capacity to check in numerous flights at the same time, which creates great savings in terms of time and space. On the second level you will find a second floor housing storage, facilities, and baggage processing and inspection areas.

The expansion of the terminal building's south face will increase the area of the departures lounge by 1,400 square meters at the platform level, which will then be equipped with six departure gates (one new in addition to five existing).

In addition, the arrivals area will be remodeled with an expansion of its lobby and baggage claim areas at the street level consisting of 200 square meters, and the installation of five baggage carousels (one new added to four existing).

The project also takes urbanization into account with a parking area that increases capacity, with taxi stands, bus parking, and a new thoroughfare for access and circulation.

Project Plan

The effort put forth by Aena to improve the amenities of the Almería airport is constant. The projects already underway and those that have just begun amount to an investment of 37.5 million Euros. The larger projects are concentrated around the terminal building, whose dimensions will increase from 9,400 square meters to 24,900 square meters, after dedicating 22.3 million Euros to the remodel.

Other parallel projects include the building's equipment, the expansion of the integrated access control system, a faster multi-service network with larger capacity, the renovation of the Public Information System (SIPA, as abbreviated in Spanish), the installation of a data processing center and a parking fee collection point. The number of parking spaces available in the public parking area has increased from 319 to 680.

The completion of the terminal building, expected in the second half of 2010, will be the final achievement in a process of important infrastructure and service improvements taking place over several years which will permit the doubling of the operational capacity of the airport.