Canberra Airport Terminal Upgrades

[Todd Milton]

Demolition of the Qantas building at the end of the old terminal looked completed as of a few days ago, only the slab was left (And a lift shaft) and the old Qantas Engineering Shed.

Rental Car offices are slowly being put together, the only office that has been completed is for the hard working carpark/customer service officers who are now housed down the end of the carpark closest to the round-a-bout. Rental/Hire carpark is having boomgates installed, supposedly to prevent people from picking up passengers inside this car park or parking in the very expensive rented spots.

A new walkway has been completed (or atleast most of) at Gate 14 for bays 1 and 1A. Still minor work to be done, a few lights to be fitted etc. This did cause a bit of annoyance for a week or two as the airport group had blocked off the escalators leading to the bays during construction, causing passengers to use the stairs (Great for some, not so great for others, but it was worked around). Would have been easier to ensure this end of the terminal was completed before opening it.... However, with its opening it should ensure a little bit less of a walk in the rain, unless the rain happens to be diagonal and comes through the large gap in the glass at the top of the structure.

Still a great lack of signage throughout the terminal, signs still at people height so if you stand in front of the sign no one else can see it, and signage still on the floor (Where apparently everyone arriving at the new terminal walks with their heads pointing towards the ground, instead of up at their shiny new showpiece). Nothing has really been done, except for the Departures sign which has been made larger (Still, on the wall and in the corner where you cannot see it from the check in counters). A great lack of screens beyond Gate 11 and the screening point to gate 14. Passengers have to walk from Gate 13/14 to opposite Gate 11 to view any arrivals or departures information (Especially as the screens do not update quickly enough at each gate). The signage along the road seems to be non-reflective, non-standard in font and design and does not give a great deal of information (However, that being said there is not a great deal more than arrivals or departures that you can put on the signs). The 10 minute zone now has temporary signs on every pole, leading to that park, now all it needs is a waiting structure for passengers waiting to be picked up, so they can sit down or not get soaked. May avoid passengers waiting next to the round-a-bout, and then being picked up on the single lane road in the wet (Because it is under cover there).

Not sure if this has been covered or not, but Pets are no longer accepeted at Canberra Airport for check in at the check in desk, nor for collection in the baggage hall (Service animals only permitted inside the terminal). Qantas/QLink recommend AAE (http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...lobal/en#jump0) while Virgin states that you check pets in at Gate 5 (The grey Airport Operations Building http://www.virginblue.com.au/Persona...ions/index.htm).

[Todd Milton]

Canberra Airport was evacuated this morning due to a gas leak when a construction worker allegedly hit a gas main.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news...n/2162211.aspx

[Jacob P]

Hope it doesn't happen tomorrow arvo!

[Zac M]

BUMP:
Stage 2 opens on Wednesday, changes include:
-Relocation of Security Screening
-Virgin to be re-located with the old terminal to be demolished almost immediately (pretty sure that is starting on the 18th)
-New Virgin Lounge
-Virgin check-in relocation, I believe Qantas takeover their current desks (could be wrong though)

I think that is all from a public perspective. Stage 3 which is just the Central Atrium and gates 9/10 should be completed in October which will conclude the works.