Farnborough Airport has seen the completion of the first phase of its 175,000 sq ft sustainably designed hangar facility.

In August 2022, the airport embarked on a £55 million investment programme to significantly expand its facilities and infrastructure by developing a 300m long, four bay hangar facility, increasing its overall hangar space by over 70 per cent. The landmark development was conceived in response to the growing demand for premium hangar space and to support and enhance the airport's international business connectivity, which in turn promotes inward investment and economic growth.

Eight months after work began on Domus III, phase one of the construction programme has been completed on time, unlocking much needed support and capacity for the airport operations. While the airport remains fully operational throughout the development, it will now benefit from increased apron capacity with the opening of new and improved aircraft stands, assisting the airport's growing operations and allowing maximum flexibility in its day-to-day business.

The completed groundworks also lay the foundation for the installation of the hangar's main steel frame, which began at the end of March and is due to be completed in mid July. The end of April will see the specialist roofing and cladding teams arriving on site to work concurrently alongside the steel teams.

Domus III will be centrally located in a prime position adjacent to the airport's two main taxiways, and will have the flexibility to accommodate several large aircraft such as the Global 7500 and the next generation of business jets including the Dassault Falcon 10X and Gulfstream G700.

The design of Domus III incorporates a number of sustainable features, including translucent automated doors that will stretch the entire length of the building, optimising natural light inside the hangar and reducing lighting usage. The large unhindered access provided by the door design will improve aircraft manoeuvrability, helping to mitigate unnecessary emissions from aircraft handling activities. Other sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, intelligent lighting, eco-friendly heating systems and a fully integrated building control and energy monitoring system to minimise operational and in-use energy consumption.

Farnborough Airport CEO Simon Geere says: "The transformation of our hangar space is undoubtedly one of the most modern and progressive aviation projects in the south-east of England, sealing the airport's future as a thriving hub of international connectivity. Not to mention Domus III has been meticulously designed to incorporate the latest technology to drive environmental performance, advancing our goal to be a global showcase for airport sustainability. The completion of the first phase of the development marks a significant milestone in the construction programme as we look forward to completion in early 2024."