Testing begins at €160m airport terminal
As the political row over the airport’s debt rumbled on, 500 test bags were passed through its hi-tech baggage handling system as part of the first phase of a commissioning process. There were no hitches.
Bags passed from the terminal’s 31 check-in desks - 28 for check-in baggage, two for hand luggage, and one out-of-gauge desk for large items like golf bags - through a three-stage security screening system and down to the loading area.
They were then fed back up to three huge carousels in the spacious baggage hall.
The system has six times the capacity of the old system and can cater for 1,400 bags an hour.
Airport managers are planning to draft in extra staff soon to conduct dummy check-in runs.
The tests are to ensure everything works smoothly ahead of the terminal’s May 10 opening.
On that date, all facilities will close at the existing terminal with the exception of some Cork Airport Authority (CAA) offices.
Meanwhile, internal work is advancing on the rest of the building. Work is nearing completion on the retail and restaurant section on the upper floor of the building.
An English Market-style food hall, with views across the runways, and a bar will be among the attractions.
Arbutus bread, Belvelly smoked salmon, Segafredo coffee, Hughes & Hughes Booksellers and a Subway food outlet are planned.
The 600-plus space multi-storey car park is already open. A covered walkway links it to the terminal.
The new building is designed to handled five million passengers annually.
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