Munich Airport: Terminal 2 satellite facility to go into operation in 2015
22-Dec-2010 The governing bodies of Munich Airport (FMG) and Lufthansa have passed a resolution to erect a satellite building to increase the capacity of Terminal 2 at Munich Airport as well as adding to the number of gate positions.
Following the approval of the expansion plans by the supervisory board of Lufthansa, FMG's supervisory board and shareholders gave the green light to the project. The decision to realize the concept will now be submitted to the budget committee of the Bavarian state parliament and the Munich city council.
The project is a response by FMG and Lufthansa, which jointly operate Terminal 2, to the dynamic passenger growth at Munich Airport. Terminal 2, which opened in 2003 and was designed to handle the hub traffic of Lufthansa and its partners, is expected to reach its specified annual traffic capacity of 25 million passengers next year.
The new building has already received final planning approval. It will be connected to Terminal 2 via an underground passenger transportation link, and will provide handling capacity for an additional 11 million passengers per year. The investment costs of 650 million euros will be shared by FMG and Lufthansa on a 60:40 basis, as in the original Terminal 2 investment.
The new satellite building was designed as an expansion of the existing baggage sorting hall on the apron to the east of Terminal 2. According to the plans on the drawing board, the elongated satellite building will have two passenger levels and 52 gates. The creation of the 27 new aircraft park positions adjacent to the new facility will more than double the number of non-remote aircraft stands serving Terminal 2. This will ensure that Munich Airport can continue to provide passenger handling services at the same high quality standards against the backdrop of steady growth in intercontinental traffic.
Under current expectations, the new passenger handling facility could go into operation in 2015. In addition to the construction of the satellite building, the governing bodies of FMG also voted at the meeting to improve the baggage transport facility to boost its capacity in line with the higher passenger handling capabilities.
With their decision to build the satellite terminal, FMG and Lufthansa have laid the foundation to continue the dynamic growth trend. "This will ensure that the Munich hub will remain a reliable engine for growth and employment in the state of Bavaria in the near future and beyond," said Georg Fahrenschon, the Bavarian finance minister and chairman of the supervisory board of FMG.
Lufthansa chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber hailed the decision as "a clear commitment by Lufthansa to Munich." Mayrhuber added, "We have now established a long-term perspective for the successful continuation of our cooperation with FMG. Those reaping the greatest benefits will be our customers, who can expect to keep enjoying the highest quality standards in the future."