Munich Airport Terminal 2 Satellite: Airport expansion under ongoing operations

Airports need to match their available infrastructure to the world’s growing civil aviation sector. Most cities do not have the option of planning and constructing a new airport from scratch. Thus airport infrastructure is often extended under ongoing operations. At Munich Airport the Terminal 2 Satellite Building, a midfield terminal functioning as an expansion of the existing Terminal 2, will go into operation in April 2016, giving the airport capacity for an additional 11 million passengers per year. The construction of the Satellite building related to the subjects of building high-quality terminal infrastructure, building terminal infrastructure under ongoing operations and building terminal infrastructure with a high level of sustainability. This paper aims to give insights on these three topics. Challenges encountered during the construction are outlined, as well as the counteractions that were taken at Munich Airport. The general facts and figures of the building and additional information about specific components relevant in terms of the Satellite building’s sustainability are included. The steps taken in planning and construction of the Satellite give a perspective on other big infrastructural projects at Munich Airport and show that all challenges can be overcome with precise planning and strong organisational structures.