Reconciling the growing number of airport expansions with the growing number of troubled or low price airlines is a puzzling challenge. The Wall Street Journal (5.17.06) sorts it out by focusing on the the no-frills approach to new terminal. Having squeezed concessions from employees, travel agents, suppliers and customers, airlines are now squeezing their landlords, the airports.
Pier H at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam is one such no frills terminal. It has seven gates, little seating, no retail and one bathroom, putting some gates are as much as 20 minutes away from a pit stop. Pier H was built in only nine months at the low low cost of $38 million dollars.
The terminal is "uncomfortable by design," with Schipol officials calculating that passengers will remain in the main terminal with its massive shopping area until time to board.
The new terminal at Miami International bucks the no frills trend (check out the delightful fish as art), but with all the factors pushing toward lower costs, a bare bones terminal is likely in your future.
First, it was bring your own food. Next it was bring your own pillow and blanket. What's next? Bring your own folding chair?

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