The temporary joint venture (UTE) formed by Cemosa, Fairbanks Arquitectos and the engineering and technology group Sener has been awarded the technical assistance contract for the drafting of the project to expand the terminal area of Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport, promoted by Aena. The project forms part of the airport’s refurbishment and expansion programme, the most ambitious transformation since the inauguration of Terminal T3 in 2010, in whose design Fairbanks and Sener were already involved, together with part of Cemosa’s Engineering Directorate. The contract has a duration of 60 months, including 48 months of architectural technical assistance during the construction works.

The award represents a further step forward in the roadmap defined by Aena to expand and remodel Málaga airport, with the aim of adapting its facilities to future demand and improving the quality of service for passengers and airlines. The total estimated investment for the refurbishment and expansion amounts to around €1.5 billion, with the objective of accommodating up to 36 million passengers per year.

The expansion will enable Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport to increase its capacity to handle the forecast growth in air traffic. The proposal envisages almost doubling the surface area of the terminal zone, from 80,000 to 140,000 square metres, as well as the demolition of the former Terminal 1 and the current B and C piers.

Among the main planned actions are the construction of a new pier for non-Schengen traffic with centralised border control, an increase in contact stands for aircraft, and the expansion of areas dedicated to security screening, in order to improve airport operations. Aena has stated that the project must be developed while keeping the airport operational, meaning that careful planning of the works will be essential to minimise any impact on day-to-day activity. In addition, the new buildings aim to achieve BREEAM certification.

The awarded consortium brings together the experience of its partners. Cemosa, headquartered in Málaga, has taken part in projects, technical assistance and construction management at various airports within Aena’s national network, and also has international experience consolidated in countries such as Peru, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, Mexico, Bulgaria, Gabon, Cape Verde and Pakistan, among others. Fairbanks Arquitectos specialises in the design of airport buildings, with notable projects including passenger terminals and control towers at airports in Spain, Greece, Algeria, Peru, Honduras, Colombia, Egypt and India, among others. Sener has been involved in projects at more than 190 airports worldwide, in countries such as Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Algeria, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Spain, bringing its expertise to very diverse technical, climatic and regulatory contexts.

With this award, Cemosa, Fairbanks Arquitectos and Sener will take part in a strategic project for the future of Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport, a key piece of infrastructure for the connectivity of Málaga, Andalusia and the Spanish airport network. The project will define the technical and architectural solutions required to support the airport’s growth, strengthen its operational capacity and improve the user experience in the coming years.

The project will be carried out through the comprehensive implementation of the BIM (Building Information Modelling) methodology, not only during the design phase, but also as the backbone for managing the entire life cycle of the airport, facilitating coordination between disciplines and helping to minimise uncertainties in a highly complex operational environment such as an airport.