3 days ago
Guernsey Airport announces plans for major revamp
Bosses at Guernsey Airport have announced major plans to redevelop the site. Guernsey Ports is yet to submit formal proposals, but leaders said the first stage would potentially focus on improving the departure lounge chiefs have been collecting feedback through public surveys to shape how the site's facilities, which first opened in 2004, should be upgraded. Richard Thomasson, airport director, said they wanted to "improve operational efficiency, increase commercial opportunities and enhance customer experience".
"Guernsey Ports is reviewing the layout of the Guernsey Airport Terminal ahead of a potential reconfiguration."This is an opportunity to refresh the terminal and ensure that our facilities meet future requirements," he visitors have shared with BBC News what they would like to see happen.
Natalia Silvester, who is behind hospitality businesses including Crepe Maison, Renoir Tea Garden and Love Shack, thinks this could be "a chance to reimagine the whole space" and "bring some new life to the airport"."It will be a good idea to expand into the duty-free space, somewhere you can actually come in a couple of hours earlier and browse around."Create an offering that interacts with people waiting when we've got longer delays," she inspiration from airports around the world, she hoped bosses would invest in making the current space more comfortable.
Law professor Andrew Le Sueur, who works at Essex University, was visiting the island and says he thinks "the airport is doing incredibly well".He believes the open space before passengers enter through security should remain."I think that's really important, you're going to be shut up in a metal tube for an hour or so and then on trains and so on."I think a bit of airiness like this is is really important so please don't crowd it full of shops or other things," he said.
Passenger Val Guilbert believes facilities for people waiting in arrivals should be taken into consideration."Cafes are always useful because if flights are delayed, it's good to be able to go and have a coffee while you're waiting," she husband, Peter Guilbert, says "accessibility" should be a key consideration."I'd make sure that there are decent facilities for elderly people. That is, people with limited eyesight, for example, so that everything's clearly labelled," he Mr Guilbert believes the airport's standards have dropped over the years."There seems to be almost an air of neglect. I sometimes feel that one time the airport was a buoyant place that you could go into. It's not so good these days in my opinion," he added.
Meanwhile, John and Dominique White, who were visiting the island from Bishop's Stortford in Hertfordshire, say they like coming to Guernsey Airport because it is "small and twee".Mr White said he prefers the experience in Guernsey to that of larger airports because it is "peaceful and tranquil"."We collect our bags and the drivers are waiting and you go through in such a short space of time."Where at Gatwick for example, obviously you've got hundreds more people and there's a more of a sort of stress environment," he says she likes the airport terminal because it's "so small and sweet" but would "like more options for places to eat". "Every time we've been here, we've probably been here seven or eight times, we've always had a nice experience," she added.
