A new terminal is to be built at Porto Santo Airport in Madeira, one of ten airports in the Vinci Airports/ANA Aeroportos de Portugal network.
Designed to work both with its surroundings and the natural resources of the Portuguese island, the new terminal will combine sustainability and operability, the company said. According to Vinci Airports, the project was designed to provide fluidity in the boarding and disembarkation routes, focusing on comfort and quality of service for passengers and the wider airport community.
The project features a number of environmentally-friendly construction strategies, ranging from solar protection and natural ventilation to water reuse and the use of sustainable materials. The terminal is compliant with the NZEB (nearly zero-energy buildings) European regulation. The architectural approach aims to provide a safe and pleasant passenger experience, favouring natural lighting and green spaces, Vinci said.
The investment and expansion will enable Porto Santo Airport to increase its passenger processing capacity per hour in several subsystems, among them check-in, security screening positions, baggage claim and baggage handling.
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A more energy efficient Porto Santo
Energy efficiency is a priority for the new terminal. A 176kWp-photovoltaic plant is to be developed by SunMind, a Vinci Concessions subsidiary dedicated to solar energy, which will produce 25% of the electricity required by the airport, while electricity and air conditioning will be supplied to aircraft via auxiliary power units. Vinci also confirmed that vehicles used at the airport will be electric.
In addition, Vinci Airports' Reforestation Programme at Porto Santo, a partnership with the IFCN - Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation, will undertake its second phase later this year, enabling the capture of residual emissions (scopes 1 and 2) from Porto Santo Airport until 2062.
Image: Vinci Airports
