Airport News
Raleigh-Durham International Airport has been transformed after opening its newly modernised Terminal 1 in April after a two-year construction project.
The $68 million development is the home for AirTran and Southwest Airlines, and features 11 new shops and restaurant options, which the airport says makes the passenger experience ‘world-class’.
Construction has seen the iconic blue panels of the old Terminal 1 that was known as ‘The Big Blue Box’ replaced with translucent and silver panels to match the look of Terminal 2, which was completed in 2011.
Other elements include one concourse featuring nine gates, a second level security checkpoint with four lanes and expanded queuing area along with updated ticketing and bag claim areas.
The Terminal 1 design also features three works of art to add to the passenger experience, while on the concourse large windows have been installed to provide a panoramic view of the airfield.
F&B concessions have a local flavour and among them are the Raleigh-based Char-Grill, the ACC American Café, and Salsarita’s, and local retailers.
The completion of Terminal 1 marks the end of a major era of infrastructure development at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which began in the late 1990s with the construction of the airport’s first parking garage, followed by the General Aviation Terminal, Terminal 2 and ending with the modernisation of the terminal.
