MORE than £12m is to be spent on improving facilities for passengers at East Midlands Airport.
An extension will be built between the existing departures and arrivals buildings.
It will mean a range of improvements for the 4.3 million passengers who use the airport every year, including:
Quicker times getting through security, with new lines able to cope with 190 people an hour rather than the existing 100 to 120.
A new undercover area so that incoming passengers don't have to wait in the open air before going through passport control.
An enlarged retail area with new shops, restaurants and bars.
A new lounge for business travellers.
The main building at the airport is nearly 50 years old, although the departures area was expanded a decade ago. Building a brand new terminal is not unfeasible as it would cost around £100 million.
Airport general manager Tim McDermott said: "Over the years, the airport has developed with a number of significant projects, including an extension and the construction of a bus interchange.
"However, this is the first time in 17 years that the airport has made this level of investment in the terminal building.
"It is incredibly important that the airport continues to develop its facilities and services to meet both current and future market demands, improve the journey for its passengers and also adapt as the industry continues to evolve."
Plans for the 14,000 square foot extension received planning permission last week.
Work is expected to start in the near future and be completed towards the end of next year.
East Midlands Airport is the 12th-busiest in the UK and the second-busiest for freight traffic.
