Case study: Vienna Airport’s south terminal expansion project

This paper describes the collaboration between two airport departments that depend on each other to develop a commercial terminal area. It outlines the new opportunities that building information modelling (BIM) planning brings to the planning and construction of a new terminal building at Vienna Airport. It describes how this digital planning tool is helping to facilitate the development of a virtual reality (VR) tool for use by the commercial department in discussions with possible new tenants. Further, it discusses the importance of developing non-aviation commercial revenues, which currently not only contribute to passenger satisfaction but also provide airports with a considerable volume of income to fund infrastructural developments. The paper not only describes new planning tools and the importance of travel retail and food and beverage (F&B) offers, but also how synergies within one company can be used to reduce costs in the process — here specifically in a lower investment for the development of the VR tool.