Blue skies over terminal 1

Today,  Lambert-St. Louis International Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge announced the second phase of the airport experience program, to take place over the next two years. Construction of this $ 50 million modernization project, the largest in Lambert’s history, will start in the fall of 2010.

Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge

Before the start of the renovations, Airtran will move from the B-concourse to C, which will effectively shut down operations at B.  Also, Frontier and Cape Air will move to C  from D.  Incoming Midwest Airlines will also operate from the C-concourse.

New signage at Lambert

The renovation will commence with renovation of concourses  A and C. The interior roof structure will be painted in light colors, new circular pendant light fixtures will be installed and the bathrooms will undergo major renovations, including terrazo flooring, new wall tile and sink fixtures. New signage will be installed in a light blue contemporary design.

New ceilings and light fixtures

Improvements in terminal 1 (the former Main Terminal) will include new ticket counters, terrazo flooring and open public views to outside. The C-concourse checkpoint will move slightly West to accomodate new passenger screening equipment.

The ceilings in the lower level will be raised and new LED light fixtures will be installed. There will be a “St. Louis Stage” for performances and art will be displayed.

A rendering of the renovated ticketing level

Director Hamm-Niebruegge pointed out the importance of being able to compete with renovated or completely new terminals at, among others, Indianapolis and Detroit. She emphasized that Lambert is an “easy” sell from an operational standpoint but it is lacking where it comes to the customer experience.

More light at Lambert

Currently in progress is the roadway signage project which will be completed in the summer.

We asked Miss Hamm-Niebruegge about any possible new (international) airlines coming in to Lambert:

“At this time, there are no concrete plans”, she said: “but we’re always looking and we are continuously marketing Lambert as a strategically located airport”.  ”We don’t have the origin and destination traffic to make international flights to Europe viable at this point, so we would have to create a market through connections”.

The renovated lower level of terminal 1

Phase 2 of the Airport Experience Program will take two years and is scheduled for completion in late 2012. The renovations are funded through airport bonds which were issued in 2009. They will be paid off through various airport revenues, such as landing fees and Passenger Facility Charges.

A few pics of  completed renovations at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport:

Brioche Doree at A-concourse

New Starbucks at concourse A

Beers of the World Cafe at A-concourse

The renovated domes of terminal 1