Reunion: Roland Garros Airport is in Progress

This is not seen yet but the airport of Reunion is changing. After three long years of study disrupted by the arrival of the A380 in 2014, the new airport company has set a clear timetable of work. From next year, probably around June-July, the companies selected following calls for tenders will address the aviation infrastructure.

This is the first part of an investment plan of 110 million euros will go up gradually in power until December 2013.In six months the work will be to set standards runways and taxiways (taxiways) to facilitate the reception of large aircraft. In terms of priorities are the strengthening and widening of the road, marking the renewal of and compliance of the network processing runoff.

Maintain the quality of service

Over the period 2012-2013, further investment is planned. It is urgent to integrate traffic growth and improve the flow inside the terminal. Roland Garros is certainly sized to accommodate 2.5 million passengers and handle simultaneously two large aircraft departing and arriving. But the operating pressure of this equipment already seriously threatens the quality of service. " facilities should be adjusted and adapted to changing passenger flows , "admits Jean-Paul Noel, CEO of the airport company.

The modernization scheme therefore provides a complete facelift of the current enclosure, with the extension of the public hall in an area of 500 square meters and the creation of new check-in counters. This adaptation of resources is part of a longer-term strategy with the host 3.5 million passengers in 2025. The airport is preparing already.Between 2014 and 2018, a second investment program of € 100 million has already stalled. The idea is to transform the platform that now hosts a large passenger lounge and build a new arrival hall instead of the cargo terminal.

Higher royalties

Over the next seven years, the airport company will mobilize more than 200 million euros. The financial package is based on a subtle balance. The Matignon Accords and European funds will allow the shareholders (the State, and local chamber of commerce) of the new entity to recover fifty million. To complete all the operations the airport company has planned parallel to borrow 70 million over 40 years. It will miss 80 million euros.

This envelope will be released progressively important in the results of the company. The CEO of the airport and its teams do not hide: the profitability will be at the rendezvous. For the record, the airport should achieve in 2011 a turnover exceeding 50 million and a profit of 5 million euros. Nevertheless, this excellent performance stems directly from the explosion of traffic, up nearly 10% since the beginning of the year.

It will be understood, to improve revenue, Roland Garros will upgrade its charges, those borne by the airlines when taking off or landing at Gillot, and those paid by passengers when they buy a ticket. The package supported by the passengers for a ticket to Paris meeting expected to increase by 40 cents from October 2012 and exceed the symbolic threshold of 17 euros.