Bologna gets airport revamp from Portland

Portland Design is overseeing a major redesign of the retail space at Italy’s Bologna Marconi Airport, in a bid to maximise revenue from the terminal’s land-side commercial activity.

The airport is aiming to expand, increasing capacity from four million to ten million passengers. The results of the new retail strategy are expected to be unveiled some time in 2010.

Portland’s brief is to review the layout and mix of the existing retail offer, together with passenger communications and branding, to enhance the passenger experience, while optimising existing and new commercial opportunities.

Portland project director Alan Thompson says, ‘One of the main challenges will be to inject the true essence of Bologna – from graphic communications, tone of voice and materials to the retail mix and food offer.’

Thompson has previously worked at Florence, Turin and Rome Fiumicino airports.

Portland was appointed in October 2007 without a pitch.