IMPROVED facilities for passengers arriving at Jersey Airport are to be put in place following the dismantling of a former hangar, according to Ports of Jersey.
Airport operations director Ashley Maggs said the dismantling of the old hangar had allowed them to “rethink the whole arrivals experience” for passengers.
He added: “As people exit the terminal, there will be more open space with views of the runway and sheltered places to wait for onward transport.
“It’s an exciting time for the Airport and I hope passengers will enjoy the public areas we are creating for them.”
There will be a new area for hire cars closer to the terminal, with Ports of Jersey hoping that easier access for pick-up and drop-off will lead to an increased range of vehicles for visitors.
Bus passengers have been promised a better waiting environment for passengers, while changes to the road layout, including traffic calming, are intended to provide a “better, and safer, overall arrival experience for visitors and Islanders”.
New cycle storage will be provided, as well as an improved cycle route into the Airport, to encourage active travel to and from the airport for those who choose this form of transport.
A planning application for the work is expected to be submitted this month, while work on the traffic calming measures is also expected to start this month.
A new family area has also opened at the Airport. The space – in the departures hall, opposite the café – was created using advice and support from the charity Brighter Futures, which works with organisations to improve services for families in the Island.
Ports head of customer experience Sarah-Louise Stubbs said young Islanders would be able to “relax, draw and read a selection of books” before their flights in the area.
Ports faced a backlash from the public in December last year over its plans to turn the upstairs lounge into a “premium” paid-for lounge. A petition was also lodged with the aim of preventing the conversion of the atrium, calling the move a “profit-driven misuse of the space”.
Following criticism, the organisation sought to reassure Islanders that its renovation plans also included a first-floor space with sea and runway views, and an “open to all” roof terrace.
