Sydney International Airport, also known by the name Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport, is situated in the suburbs of Sydney in Mascot right next to Botany Bay.
The airport is the major airport of Sydney (a major hub for the national carrier Qantas) with three runways and three terminals (international, domestic and Qantas domestic) and has the distinction of handling 46% of international passengers in Australia.
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In 2006–2007 the airport handled around ten million international passengers which is a 25% increase over the 2001–2002 figure of eight million passengers (overall passenger figures for 2006 showed 30 million for the year).
Projections expect the number of international passengers using the airport by 2023–2024 to exceed 20 million. This increase in numbers led to the instigation of an expansion project for the international terminal T1. The expansion was completed in June 2010.
The airport, which is the 33rd busiest in the world, is operated by Sydney Airport Corporation Limited (SACL). The last T1 terminal improvements were completed in 2000 in time for the Sydney Olympic Games.
Master Plan
A new master plan for the airport was approved in June 2009. The plan proposes several improvements to the airport facilities including hangars, terminals, freight facilities, airport roads and car parking over the next 20 years. It also proposes upgrades to M4 and M5 motorways.
Sydney airport T1 expansion
In October 2007 work began on the T1 expansion project. The investment for the project was estimated at $500m and involved work in several areas. The expansion added 7,300m² (increase of 10%) to the departures level to provide more space for passenger processing (check-in) and also for retail outlets, restaurants, cafes and passenger waiting areas. A new outbound and early baggage handling system was also added.
30,000m² of the departures was redeveloped and the Australian customs and immigration area was centralised to better serve the larger passenger numbers (work on the departures level was completed by June 2010).
In addition a string of other improvements were made around the terminal building including new aerobridges, taxiway improvements (so that the A380 can be accommodated) and also an improvement in the capacity of the arrivals baggage handling system (three new baggage carousels) to improve passenger flow at peak times especially when the A380 is brought into service in greater numbers.
T1 also benefits from an additional 120m of moving walkways, improved signage, refurbished washrooms and new floor and ceiling finishes.
SACL appointed Bovis Lend Lease as the managing contractor for the project. The project manager for the airport project was the Australian company APP.
In addition Woodhead were awarded a contract to design and plan the new extension and improvements around the airport. Turner and Townsend was awarded the contract for the construction of 5,000m² of retail development in T1 as part of the total expansion.
Parking
A new eight-floor multi-storey car park (approved in April 2005) with a floor space of 100,000m² started construction in April 2007 and was built on the old long-term car park.
The new car park built adjacent to T1 is connected to the terminal with 3,000 covered spaces (bringing the total parking at the airport to 4,800 spaces). The car park is equipped with moving walkways and lifts to assist passengers with their luggage.
In addition the car park has dual plumbing installed and uses recycled water for flushing its toilets. The project cost an estimated $65m.. The car park project was designed and constructed by Abigroup Contractors Pty.
