PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aéroports de Paris (Paris:ADP) (Pink Sheets:AEOPF) Chairman & CEO Pierre Graff unveiled the vast renovation project for terminals 2A and 2C of Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. From the 2nd quarter of 2012, these terminals will be interconnected by a new building covering over 16,500m² that will save time and provide greater comfort.

"Following an initial investment plan focused on raising capacity between 2006 and 2010, for the next five years Aéroports de Paris will carry out considerable work to renovate older facilities and ensure a more cohesive degree of quality across its terminals. The connecting building between terminals 2A and 2C is a first step in this programme aimed at making our airport more competitive and improving passenger satisfaction," stresses Pierre Graff.

This new infrastructure will help free up space in the terminals and redesign their layout entirely, in order to simplify passenger routes within the airport and improve service quality.

A new building designed to make the passenger route within the airport clearer:

one floor = one function

This central building, eventually capable of handling up to 10 million passengers every year, was designed to simplify passenger orientation.

• After check-in, either at terminal 2A or 2C, the passenger goes to the connecting building ground level (runway level) to a dedicated control area with 13 passport control windows and 16 security checkpoints that will cut down on inspection times.
• Next the passenger advances to a vast 2,300 m² retail area on the first floor
• Depending on their status, passengers may continue on to the airline lounges on the 3rd floor of the building.

A bold appearance

Designed to simplify travel for passengers, this building will nevertheless catch the eye with its bold architecture. Aéroports de Paris has decided to decorate the building with a futuristic external architecture consisting of metal ribbons. Once inside, passengers discover a light, elegant setting. Along each step of the way, they can look out through large picture windows that let in daylight and provide a view of the airplanes.

An expanded retail offer: the Paris shopping experience

The connecting building will provide passengers with an expanded retail offer in an innovative concept.

Aéroports de Paris wishes to become Europe's reference in terms of Travel Retail and to this end it will apply a new organisation model in its terminals' retail areas. The model will present a layout in which passengers first pass through a "department store" offering all major retail items (alcohol, perfumes, tobacco, gifts, gourmet) to reach the catering area and a luxury brands section. When it opens, the new connecting building will be the first from Aéroports de Paris to benefit from this layout.

Transforming terminals 2A and 2C

The connecting building is the first step in a complete renovation of terminals 2A and 2C to be completed in the second half of 2013.

The following work is planned for the second half of 2012:

• opening a new 1,000m² lounge at the Terminal 2A arrivals level.
• unifying and renovating the Terminal 2A boarding lounge
• completely renovating the retail area between Terminals 2A and 2C

In the 2nd half of 2013, the work will conclude with the end of the renovation of the terminals' public areas.

The work on these terminals including the new connecting building represents an investment worth 106 million euros.

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