Eindhoven Airport will start expanding the terminal, including a baggage basement, at the end of this year. The work is expected to be fully completed in 2027. The construction must cause as little disruption as possible to passengers, visitors and employees. The terminal is being expanded because the current terminal has become too small for the current passenger numbers. The current terminal was built for about 5 million passengers. In 2023, approximately 6.8 million passengers used the airport. Eindhoven Airport expects the same number of passengers this year as well. Eijdhoven is the second largest airport in the Netherlands after Schiphol. The final design for the extension is ready. According to the plans, the current terminal will be enlarged by approximately 10,000 square metres on the airside (after the security check). On the land side (for the security check), the terminal will be expanded by 2,000 square metres. Underground modifications will also be made for a baggage basement. With enlargement, there will be more room for gates and the non-Schengen area. In addition, there will be more space for catering. The baggage basement provides opportunities for faster and more efficient handling of arriving baggage, the larger arrivals hall above ensures that more flights can disembark at the same time. This is a great need since there are no scheduled flights after 23:00. The expansion provides more comfort for passengers and employees because there is more space for handling processes and services. The expansion incorporates the most up-to-date developments in the field of sustainability. For example, materials are reused, such as the façade parts from the existing terminal. After the expansion, the terminal will be completely gas-free. Two thermal energy storage installations will soon be used to heat and cool the terminal. One of these will be built in the extension of the terminal. On the roof of the terminal extension, almost 1.100 solar panels. This will generate approximately 363,500 kilowatt hours of energy annually; That is about 40 percent of the energy consumption in the new part of the terminal. Part of the roof will be provided with sedum planting. This contributes to water collection and insulation of the terminal. In the basement there will be a water basin where rainwater will be collected. That water will be used for the toilets in the extension. The design with the characteristic entrance will be designed in such a way that materials can easily be reused in the future. Almost all of the equipment used during construction will be electric. The total realisation of the expansion will take approximately 2.5 years. As a result of the addition of the basement and the phasing of the construction (the airport remains operational), more time is needed than previously estimated. The planning of the works is aligned with the planned temporary closure as a result of the runway works in 2027. The expansion of the terminal is in line with Eindhoven Airport’s ambition to further improve the quality of the airport. (Photo Eindhoven Airport).
