A MAJOR international airport is about to undergo two decades of change with a massive expansion.
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport in Australia dates back to 1919 making it one of the oldest international airports in the world.
And it has revealed its Master Plan 2045 that will completely transform the airport.
Over two decades, the AUD$6billion (£3.1billion) project will completely overhaul the airport including expanding the international terminal, as well as redeveloping two domestic terminals.
There will be two new gates at the international terminal, as well as 12 new ‘swing gates’ at the domestic terminals, which can also be used for international aircraft depending on demand.
There will also be a new concourse between the domestic T2 and T3 terminals, which is where the new ‘swing gates’ will be, allowing the area to be transformed for international departures.
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At the international terminal (T1), travellers will also find additional baggage reclaims and new gate lounges.
Tech upgrades at the airport, which will be finished by the end of this year, include a $200million (£104million) update to T2 Domestic Terminal with new security scanners and self-service bag drops.
Flights at the airport are set to increase as well, from around 75,000 currently per year to 130,000 by 2045.
As a result, international passengers are expected to double from around 16million per year today, to 36.4million in 2045.
There will also be a new hotel which will add 200 to 500 rooms near T1 and between 500 and 900 elsewhere at the airport.
Across the entire airport, there will be a number of new shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and potentially even a pub too.
According to the planning documents, there will be “amusement centres” and “entertainment facilities” as well.
By 2045, the airport aims to handle 72.6million passengers a year – compared to the 42.5million passengers today.
It will be the airport’s largest terminal transformation since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “Approval of Sydney Airport Master Plan 2045 provides a clear pathway to plan for future demand and invest in the infrastructure Sydney will need over the next two decades.
“As Australia’s international gateway, this plan ensures we can continue supporting tourism, trade, investment and jobs while delivering the capacity needed for future generations.”
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said: “Kingsford Smith is Australia’s busiest airport, it must remain fit for the future.
“Airports aren’t artworks, they’re constantly evolving to become more efficient and improve the passenger experience, and this new Master Plan maps out the airport’s plan to do just that.
“As demand grows, a modern Kingsford Smith will remain crucial to transport, tourism and industry across New South Wales and the nation.”