New International Arrivals Corridor Being Constructed at Honolulu International Airport
October 1, 2008 -- Construction is underway on a new International Arrivals Sterile Corridor at Honolulu International Airport. The corridor, located on the third level of the ‘Ewa Concourse, will provide an easy, secure route to the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area for arriving international passengers who deplane from Gates 26 through 34.
Construction is underway on a new International Arrivals Sterile Corridor at Honolulu International Airport. The corridor, located on the third level of the ‘Ewa Concourse, will provide an easy, secure route to the Federal Inspection Services (FIS) area for arriving international passengers who deplane from Gates 26 through 34.
About 80 percent of the international passengers arrive at those gates and, when completed, will provide a much nicer welcome experience for international guests.
“We’re working to make the passengers' experience through Customs and the rest of our airport as pleasant as possible, while maintaining the highest level of safety and security," explained the state airports deputy director Brian Sekiguchi.
The enclosed, air-conditioned sterile corridor will be approximately 2,100 feet long, portions of which will have glass walls with plantings and flowers on the outside to showcase the uniqueness and beauty of Hawai‘i. There will also be a series of moving walkways at the ‘Ewa extension of the Overseas Terminal. This will help the passengers get to the FIS area with more ease and decrease the need for Wiki Wiki buses in these areas. The reduction of the Wiki Wiki bus fleet should provide significant operations and maintenance savings for the Airports Division.
The International Arrivals sterile corridor is part of the 12-year, $2.3 billion Airports Modernization Plan to upgrade Hawai‘i’s airports. The comprehensive plan involves implementing projects to improve passenger service, increase security and operational efficiencies, increase the airports’ capacity and enhance convenience.
The improvements are being paid for entirely by airport fees and federal funds, and do not utilize State General Funds. Cost of constructing the corridor is $36.1 million, $10 million of which is federally funded. The International Arrivals corridor is being constructed in phases and the initial phase is scheduled to open in May 2009. The entire project is expected to be complete by fall 2010.
Installation of structural steel for New International Arrivals Sterile Corridor
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