We are about to GO LIVE on the international terminal expansion component of Stage 2 of the Terminal Redevelopment. On Saturday 4 April we’ll see the first Virgin RPT flight between Port Hedland and Denpasar, Bali. This is different to the old flights which were restricted charters. To achieve this we’ve had to create more space in the terminal to allow for a quick turnaround time between arrival and departures. Last week we received the formal tick of approval from Office of Transport Security ahead of schedule, so we’re all systems go for 4 April!
By the end of this week you’ll see big changes to the international lounge. The old toilets and an office has been removed to create more space. A new toilet block has arrived and will be put in place today, then joined up to the existing building. Other changes you will notice are:
- More room around the baggage carousel so you can pick up your luggage easier
- The customs processing modules have doubled and will be relocated to give more space and faster processing times
- The airside wall has been pushed out along the international and domestic lounge, giving more space in the terminal and creating a fresher façade from the outside
Although the contractors have been working very hard to make sure the terminal is ready for the change in the Bali flight there will still be plenty of work happening after this weekend. This includes:
- Completion of the new international departures toilets (portaloos will be provided for this weekend’s flight)
- Installation of bi-folds doors to manage the swap between international and domestic flights (temporary hoardings will be used this weekend and moved around by our contractors as needed)
- The removal of the old airside external wall (some sections only as the majority will be completed this week)
- Construction of new offices opposite the check-in counters