Fraport Greece appoints The Design Solution for Corfu International Airport development planning project

London-based airport planning and retail design specialist The Design Solution (TDS) has been appointed by Fraport Greece to lead the planning and design of a major terminal expansion and reconfiguration at Corfu (Ioannis Kapodistrias) International Airport, one of Greece’s leading tourism gateways.

The appointment of TDS is part of the latest stage of Fraport Greece’s investment in the long-term development of its regional airports portfolio, following its 2017 40-year concession agreement with the Greek government to manage and develop 14 Greek regional and island airports, including many of Greece’s key tourism airports.

The latest phase of development at Corfu follows Fraport’s rebuilding of the airport terminal in 2020, covering nearly 10,400 square meters of space, including commercial areas designed by TDS for retail operator Hellenic Duty Free (now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avolta).

Corfu Airport is one of Greece’s busiest airports and is expected to serve more than 4,6 million passengers in 2025, with growth of over 6% on 2024. Complementing the summer peak period, Corfu is also seeing a significant increase in traffic through September and October as travelers increasingly seek late-season sun.

This sustained growth in demand is the key driver of the need for expanded operational capacity and enhanced commercial facilities to support future developments at the airport.

Under the new development program, TDS will work closely with airport commercial consultancy Minerva, led by its Director, Jeremy Halse, to develop a comprehensive masterplan for the airport’s terminal expansion. In its current layout, the existing single-level terminal at Corfu operates with arrivals to the north and departures to the south. The proposed plan includes new extensions to both ends of the terminal to increase capacity across all operational areas, while improving passenger flows between the Schengen and non-Schengen zones.

A key focus of the project will be the commercial expansion of the Schengen area, including a significant enlargement of its retail and F&B capacity. The planning process aims to optimize the efficiency of passenger flow through the airport, and through a careful reconfiguration of the terminal space, will add over 1,200 square meters of commercial space to help drive Non-aeronautical Revenue.

Robbie Gill, Managing Director, TDS, commented, “The Design Solution is thrilled and proud to return to Corfu Airport through this exciting appointment by Fraport Greece. We know the airport well, having previously collaborated with Hellenic Duty Free on the design of the main duty free store.

“Over the past two decades, we have delivered landmark projects at several airports where tourism traffic and seasonality are dominant features, including Malta, Larnaca, Paphos and Nice Côte d’Azur. Our team has a deep passion for the unique challenges of tourist destination airports, from managing extreme seasonality to creating memorable passenger experiences, and we understand the specific characteristics and needs of these airports. We look forward to utilizing that extensive experience in helping Fraport Greece to deliver an airport that meets the island’s growing demand and enhances the passenger experience while celebrating its unique character and culture.”

George Vilos, Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, Fraport Greece, emphasized the importance of the expansion plans for the airport’s future. “Kerkira Airport ‘Ioannis Kapodistrias’ serves as a gateway to one of Greece’s most emblematic tourist destinations, and Fraport Greece is committed to delivering an airport environment that enhances the island’s image. Given that offering a high-quality passenger experience is central to our strategy, the appointment of The Design Solution represents an important step toward designing a modern and efficient expanded terminal that effectively meets the expectations of today’s travelers.

“We are delighted to embark on this journey with TDS, which has extensive experience in managing the complexities of highly seasonal airport environments. We are confident that our collaboration will  reinforce Corfu Airport’s role as a modern, customer-focused gateway for the years ahead.”