Madeira Airport invests 11 million euros in new operational and commercial areas

 

Madeira Airport has been modernised and inaugurated july, 1st a renovated commercial area, with new stores and more than 1,800m2, an expansion that represents the creation of 70 new jobs. Improvements are also introduced at the operational level, which involve strengthening and re-profiling the runway and increasing its usable area by 1,500m2, and also providing seven new passenger and hand baggage screening lines that will enable passenger processing to be increased by 83%. In all, this work represents an investment of 11 million euros.

With this modernisation, Madeira Airport now has a new spatial organisation, different passenger flows, and in its commercial offer introduces new stores with major national and international labels.

A highlight is the spacious and renovated Duty Free Store, with a new walk-through concept and the Portfolio store, dedicated to selling “made of Portugal” items.

The inauguration ceremony will be attended by his Excellency, the President of the Regional Government of Madeira, and marks yet another step in the success of the Airport, after setting a new record in 2015 for passenger traffic, which reached 2.7 million, 6.3% more than in 2014. 

With the project that is now inaugurated, in operational terms, it will be possible to process 1,400 people/hour in the terminal, when previously only 720 people/hour were processed. In commercial terms, the improvements will enable additional growth in sales of 32% on the airside.

This modernisation aims to improve the passengers' experience of using the airport, with a commitment to an increased and diverse choice, but also with a strong commitment to increase the capacity of security control, so that passengers spend less time waiting in queues.

The work carried out in the commercial area to improve the passenger experience corresponds to the following points:

  • reloca​tion and increased area for the main shop, adopting a walk-through concept;
  • reloca​tion, expansion, diversification and improvement in the specialised retail areas;
  • improved range of restaurants and the introduction of new concepts, including an outdoor terrace area, with a view of the sea and the runway.

At an operational level, the improvements are:

  • increase in the passenger screening area from 650m2 to 1,500m2;
  • provision of seven new passenger and hand baggage screening lines and consequently doubling processing capacity for passenger screening (from 720 pax/hour to 1,400 pax/hour);
  • doubling the waiting and passport verification area (from 300m2 to 650 m2);
  • adopting a variable configuration for the departure lounges, permitting the areas assigned for Schengen and non-Schengen flights to be altered and easily adaptable to the traffic profile for each day;
  • creation of a transfer hall;
  • provision of three more departure gates (one Schengen and two non-Schengen).
  • strengthening and re-profiling bituminous paving: runway, taxiways and surrounding areas. These improvements represent around 60% of the total investment made.

 

WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE NEW COMMERCIAL AREA 

 

THE MAIN SHOP

The old shop of 350 m2 has made way for a Duty Free Store, with an area of about 800 m2 of usable sales space with a contemporary and attractive design that allows the various display areas and product presentations to be highlighted. Inherent in this concept is the incorporation in the store's concept of aspects that are characteristic of the region: flowers, costumes, and the local lifestyle.

Following international trends, the new space was developed with a walk-through, a common circulation area, inside the store, with an appropriate and intuitive circulation route for passengers, without repercussions for the operational dynamics of the airport. This route defines and organises the various areas of the store and leads the passengers to discover national and international tastes and products.

The creation of the walk-through will create a distinctive commercial atmosphere and it constitutes the passengers’ first point of contact with the refurbished commercial area.

A unique and distinctive image was given to the Taste Madeira space, emphasising the importance of local goods and products.

 

THE PORTFOLIO STORE
 

With 200m2 of display area, Madeira Airport's Portfolio is much more than a store, it is a unique way to project an image of our country and of Madeira, making them into a destination to rediscover.

Ceilings in pine, finishes in ceramic tile (azulejos) with patterns from Madeira's fabrics, and the use of cork are just some of the details incorporated in this new retail space, which is the second store of the brand organically developed to display to the world and promote Portuguese brands, particularly the brands and products of Madeira.

An airport is not only a place of passage, but also a valuable opportunity to create and foster the image of the destination in which it is located.

In this spirit, ANA Aeroportos created the Portfolio store: a new brand “made of Portugal”, which lives and breathes the authenticity, originality, creativity and innovation of which Portugal is made. A veritable portfolio of Portuguese qualities, expressed in the language and imagery associated with the brand, and a reflection of the excellence and quality that Portugal needs people to discover, the most important aspects it has to offer: its experiences and emotions. 

Culture, Fashion, Flavours, Crafts and Design make up the segments that define the world of choice offered by Portfolio, inspired by Portuguese brands and focused on regional products of Madeira, carefully selected and fundamentally attuned to the full ambition of the project. The brand Portfolio – Made of Portugal is a concept developed by ANA Aeroportos, who have entrusted AREAS with its operational management.

 

FOOD COURT 
 

The food court on level 3 was remodelled and now features the concepts Specially, Cockpit, Pizza Hut and Buondi, and offers the passenger an ideal place to stop, with an increased range of food on offer and a unique view over the sea and the runway from the outdoor terrace.

On level 2, incorporated in the departure lounges, passengers will find an additional range of food on offer, a Buondi café in the non-Schengen area, as well as a Specially unit, incorporated in the Schengen departure lounge, with a view of the sea.

 

OTHER COMMERCIAL CONCEPTS AND BRANDS
 

The remaining commercial area includes stores such as Travel & Business Gate (with the brands Rimowa, Tumi, Victorinox and Samsonite) and Fashion Gate (with the brands Desigual, Pepe Jeans, Diesel, Butterfly, and Lambretta, among others). In Football Gate various areas have been created for all those who enjoy sport, such as Football, Running and Motorsport, as well as kits, accessories and gadgets. This space brings together merchandise from various European football clubs.

Mention should also be made of Sunglass Hut (which represents brands such as Ray Ban, Persol and Oakley) and Attitude (a premium segment multi-brand store, where brands such as Boss, Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, SuperDry and Swarovski can be found).

Gifts to Go is a children's store full of toys and games that promises to delight the young.

Also worthy of mention are the stationers Relay, Parfois, the most prestigious brand of fashion accessories of Portuguese origin, and Chocolate Lounge, dedicated to the finest brands of chocolate in the world, namely Godiva, Neuhaus, Valrhona, Arcádia, Villars, Leónidas, Goldkenn, among others. 

Sweet Colors is a store for jelly sweets, gum, chocolates, caramels, biscuits, cookies, and also, themed presents, enjoyed by all ages.

Gelati di Chef is new, and here passengers can enjoy a wide range of ice cream and frozen desserts, combining the quality of this product with traditionally made cookies and cones.

The stores Ale-Hop and Pandora are expected to open shortly. Ale-Hop is an accessory and gadget store, which brings more colour and joy into passenger shopping, while Pandora will be the first jewellery store operated directly by the brand on the Island of Madeira.