The new terminal of "Zvartnots" international airport will open this fall.

Mediamax’s correspondent visited the construction site of the new terminal and familiarized himself with the process of construction of country’s main air gateway.

PR manager of “Armenian International Airports” CJSC - the concessionaire, Gevorg Abrahamian said that the third and the final stage of airport modernization (2007-2011, volume of investments- $‌160mln) will be completed by August-September 2011, when the new terminal will be put into operation and will completely replace the famous round building of the airport.

The first stage of modernization of “Zvartnots” airport lasted two years (2002-2004), during which the runway was repaired and new illumination and signal light systems were installed. During the second stage (2004-2007), a new passenger complex worth $‌84mln was built.

Argentinean and Armenian specialists jointly work over the construction of the new terminal. Construction works are carried out with 15 local and foreign companies and nearly 600 workers.

The public terminal covers an area of 34 square kilometers. A two-storey parking lot with capacity for 600 vehicles will be situated in front of the terminal. At the same time, the roofs of the parking lot and the terminal will be peculiar: the first one will be covered with a lawn and the second one will be made of glass by 40 percent.

The facade of the terminal will be also of glass, with the colors of the Armenian flag, scattered by the principle of randomness.

46 passenger check-in desks will be placed on the second floor, which is two times more than the current number of desks. A spacious arrival hall will be on the first one (the present one is a temporary).

Gevorg Abrahamian claims that the airport’s new terminal may be considered the most quake-proof building in Armenia due to quake-proof cushions made of layers of rubber and steel, which will help withstand a 9-ball earthquake.

Speaking about the future destiny of current airport building, Gevorg Abrahamian said that despite its beauty, the building failed to meet the requirements of international airports and instead of reconstructing it, it was decided to build a new terminal. The old building will be preserved, repaired and used for other purposes.

After the completion of construction works, “Zvartnots” international airport will be able to annually serve 3 million passengers, twice more than in 2010.