- Title: Rio completes new terminal at international airport ahead of the Olympics
- Date: 19th May 2016
- Summary: INTERIOR OF NEW TERMINAL 2
- Embargoed: 3rd June 2016 19:31
- Keywords: Brazil Olympics Rio 2016 airport tourism
- Location: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0024IH5DFR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Rio de Janeiro Mayor, Eduardo Paes, handed over to Olympic authorities on Thursday (May 19) a new second terminal at the city's international airport, which is expected to receive 1.5 million passengers during the Games.
The results of the 2-billion-real (500-million-U.S.-dollar) project will be set in motion on Monday (May 23) when the terminal officially begins operations following a full police check.
Speaking at the event on Thursday, Paes stressed the importance of the legacy following the Games.
"The Olympics is an event which lasts 17 or 18 days, with a more intense impact over one or two months. The real reason for bringing the Olympics to a country or a city is what we can leave that country or city afterwards, a physical, tangible and objective legacy. I think it is becoming increasingly clear the amount of things that have been done because of Olympic inspiration, which are not necessarily for the Olympics," said Paes.
The developments at the Tom Jobim airport, otherwise known as Galeao, include the new Southern Pier, measuring 100,000 square metres (328,000 square feet), 26 new departure gates, 14 conveyer belts, 14 elevators, six elevators, and 6,000 square metres (19,000 square feet) of VIP areas.
The new facilities are expected to expand the airport's capacity by 65 percent, up from 18 to 30 million passengers per year, and generating an additional 7000 jobs.
Transport Minister, Mauricio Quintella, said the investment would add value to the ailing economy.
"The idea is that with public-private investments we can instigate the private sector, stimulating competition, and thus increasing the quantity and quality of transport services for passengers and cargo, generate jobs, which is perhaps the greatest challenge to the Brazilian economy today, as well as diminishing costs and recuperating the economy," said Quintella.
The works took a total of 18 months to be completed, following a series of setbacks. The Rio Galeao group has previously denied that the involvement of Odebrecht, one of the contracted companies, in a sweeping corruption scandal has affected the progression of the works. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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