Lufthansa and Munich Airport to invest EUR650m in satellite terminal

Germany's Flughafen München GmbH (FMG) and Lufthansa announced (22-Dec-2010) plans to invest EUR650 million to construct a satellite terminal that would expand annual capacity by 11 million passengers. Terminal 2, to which the structure would be attached, is expected to reach a maximum capacity of 25 million passengers in 2011, meaning the extension would raise its capacity by 44%. The airport will cover 60% of the project cost with Lufthansa to cover the remaining 40%. The new satellite building was designed as an expansion of the existing baggage sorting hall on the apron to the east of Terminal 2. According to the plans on the drawing board, the elongated satellite building will have two passenger levels and 52 gates. The creation of the 27 new aircraft park positions adjacent to the new facility will more than double the number of non-remote aircraft stands serving Terminal 2. The planned development still requires final approval from the budget committee of the Bavarian state parliament and the Munich city council. Under current expectations, the new passenger handling facility could go into operation in 2015. In addition to the construction of the satellite building, the governing bodies of FMG also voted to improve the baggage transport facility to boost its capacity in line with the higher passenger handling capabilities. Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber hailed the decision as "a clear commitment by Lufthansa to Munich". [more]