Sydney Airport wants to take Terminal 2 from drab to fab
By David Flynn, September 25 2017
Sydney Airport is continuing its quest to take Terminal 2 from drab to fab – at least the airside portion of the terminal – with renovations designed to make T2 lighter, brighter and better for travellers.
Portions of the terminal – primarily used by Virgin Australia and Jetstar, along with regional airlines – will be expanded and redesigned to create 'dwell areas' with upgraded flooring, columns, lighting, ceiling finishes and contemporary furniture.
Expect more natural light, too, along with 'enhanced wayfinding' to improve passenger flows and sightlines replaces crowds and clutter.
There'll also be ten new retail tenancies plus 'significant upgrades to key bathroom amenities' throughout the terminal.
The works are expected to be finished by the end of 2018.
Sydney Airport CEO Kerrie Mather says this latest round of refurbs "will deliver a consistent look and feel across the terminal, with a greater sense of space and light," and follows "fantastic feedback" about the terminal's casual dining precinct.
Several of Terminal 2's food outlets have become increasingly popular with business travellers following the introduction of a $36 food and drink credit for Priority Pass cardholders.
Many Australian Business Traveller readers who have access to the nearby Virgin Australia lounge – due to flying in business class or holding Velocity Platinum or Gold status – tell us that Movida has become their go-to for a preflight meal, before heading back to the lounge to tackle some work before wheels-up.
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Oct 2016
Total posts 37
Sydney's T2 would have to be my least favourite airport terminal ever, this will help... although it's the check in area that NEEDS an upgrade right now! That terminal is hectic in the school holidays.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Jan 2012
Total posts 172
As a former Ansett Australia employee who worked for the airline when T2 was opened. We thought it was fantastic when it opened. Unfortunately time has told a different story as the design has not aged gracefully. It was not a very cohesive design between the new and old sections of the terminal and the thing that I find really ugly is the exposed insides of the building from downstairs on the street. T3 has style written all over it and QF did an amazing job on that terminal.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2016
Total posts 45
Maybe if the Jetstar and Tiger crowd didn't treat the terminal like the local pub it would be more appealing.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Jul 2015
Total posts 219
A bit harsh but I know what you mean.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 May 2015
Total posts 30
Was in Manchester recently...the whole airport is one big pub.
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 91
A much bigger VA lounge too please.....
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 1224
The issue with T2 is that it is massively overcrowded. I assume if you go back to the design specs when Ansett built it in the late '90s you will find that it is now putting through way more pax than it was ever designed for. This is most obvious in the check-in/security area but the foodcourt between the 2 concourses is also a major problem.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
10 Nov 2011
Total posts 130
What happened to the plans to merge T2 and T3 and have that new terminal plus the current T1 take both international and domestic passengers? Is that still on the cards?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
17 Mar 2016
Total posts 42
This was killed off quietly after failing to gain airline support, especially Virgin. However in May this year, it was announced that a Terminal 4 is now in the pipeline next to T2. I am not sure how this development impacts on that proposal.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Mar 2015
Total posts 94
I am not sure an "update" could save any part of SYD. Apart from LAX, SYD is my least favourite airport. Ill admit i am biased as i do not live in Sydney (or LA) and so both are seen as transit points. Neither do well.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
SYD sucks as a connecting port, but it's actually not terrible as an origin-and-destination port; conversely, MEL is a much better connecting port, but rubbish as an origin-and-destination port.
26 Jul 2015
Total posts 80
Anthony, I used to be like you but I was at LAX 3 weeks ago and I was amazed at the improvement ( Bradley admittedly). Sure they are doing a lot of work there but they've been doing that on and off since I first went there in 1972. Even better, as a horrible smoker, there is even a smoking area at LAX, so I'm even happier. Sydney, well, its a bit ordinary all around I think (unless you love shopping that is.)
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
14 Mar 2017
Total posts 152
The airside of the Bradley is fine. The rest of that airport is still a complete disaster.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
24 Jan 2013
Total posts 30
shopping ...hmmmm one needs to be very wealthy or intoxicated imho to shop in the syd airport stores , i have yet to find a bargain. apart from the obligatory DF booze etc which today you can match outside
09 Mar 2017
Total posts 7
TBIT has a smoking area Airside? Last time I tried to go to the old smoking area it said No Smoking and had some bowls of water for dogs.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1250
Install an airside people mover = become a world class airport
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
I'm thinking 'Monorail'..!
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
As in 'Sydney' or 'The Simpsons' ..?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 475
I've got Lyle Lanley on speed dial...Just say the word SYD and I'll put him in touch with y'all
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
mono = one
rail = rail
23 Sep 2015
Total posts 49
out to Badgers Creek?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 May 2015
Total posts 30
Yes instead of scrapping the Sydney monorail it could have been put to good use between T1 and Domestic.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
You're absolutely right, but the main challenge with setting up such a people-mover is that it's quite hard to route it, with the only options between T1 and T2-T3 being underground (which is expensive) or along Airport Drive (which is circuitous).
It also involves spending money on something that won't print money, like dining and retail, so...
12 Feb 2014
Total posts 229
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
Maybe someone could answer this one but is there any real reason that T2 and T3 don't have an airside connector?
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
The geography doesn't help. Is it that big a deal?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2199
The short answer is that there isn't really that big a need to facilitate T2-T3 connections, given no carrier operates across both terminals.
If you wanted a connecting walkway, you'd either have to connect them via an awkward back corner (between the back of the main T3 food court and the walkway between the JQ pier and the main T2 food court) or punch through both landside concourses with a massive footbridge over the car park.
I'd go with the former, just because it offers the shortest run between the JCL/QP in T3 and the JQ pier in T2, allowing maximum time in toastie land.
I suppose it could be justified to SACL based on making the retail more attractive and thus more profitable, but that involves meddling with dark magic and it's too early in the morning for that.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
Bring back the travelators...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Aug 2014
Total posts 72
I have seen 3 world countries that are better than SYD..
02 Jun 2017
Total posts 3
In a similar vein, why was T4 Melbourne built without any people movers? Miles of mandatory terminal walking is an inconvenient anachronism.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
24 Aug 2011
Total posts 780
Trying to make you thirsty when you finally reach the gates furthest away. Only thing I don't like about flying Airnorth. And don't get me started about VA arriving in T4 now and again...
13 May 2015
Total posts 22
And the only reason this is being done?
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