A NEW £1million terminal building at Land's End Airport has opened its doors to passengers.
Now boasting new baggage handling facilities, hangar improvements and a cafe area with views over the airfield, the terminal is part of a major investment programme by owner and operator the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company.
Passengers were given the chance to take a look around the site for the first time on Tuesday.
"The new terminal building has completely transformed Land's End Airport into a modern facility with fresh and vibrant surroundings and I am delighted to welcome our first passengers here to see the new look," said Chris Pearson, Land's End Airport manager.
"We hope that the improvement of facilities will help make the travel experience for passengers flying to and from the Isles of Scilly as enjoyable and stress-free as possible."
Among the first to use the new building was holidaymaker Susan Hallem, travelling with husband Paul.
"We've flown from Land's End many times in the past so we know what the old terminal building was like and can see what a big improvement has been made," she said.
"It is definitely a much nicer place to be while you are waiting for your flight and it is a lot more relaxing than other airports even other small ones which can be noisy and over crowded."
Helping to create a relaxed atmosphere in the building is work by local artist Tom Leaper.
His artwork is on show at Land's End, along with the creations of others including Mathew Lanyon, Anthony Frost, Rose Hilton and Simon Allen.
Bookings for the 28-mile flight are said to have doubled for the 2013 season compared to last year and the Steamship Company has also ploughed £2 million into upgrading passenger facilities on board the Scillonian III.
As a result of the investment, the business has created around 50 new full time and seasonal jobs, including pilots, seamen, engineers, fire officers, customer service and airport staff.
