The new boarding satellite or S4 project at terminal 2E is one of the largest airport investments in Europe. The project's investment is on the same scale as that of the Millau Viaduct.
Aéroports de Paris decided to maintain the project despite decreasing traffic, not only because it wanted to expand the number of aircraft contact stands, but also to allow the renovation and upgrading of the already existing terminals (2F, 2B, 2D) to improve service quality.
A major portion of the investment in LISA* is spent on equipment. A 52-metre train costs around €8 to €9 million, which is about half the price of a high-speed TGV train. Today, the project is weather tight and well advanced and should be completed by early 2011. The next stage will be interior fittings and furnishing, during which many sub-contractors will have to be managed.
Some significant dates and figures
Cédric Laurier, S4 Project Director (DMO6)
One project, 3 operations
Deliverable in spring 2012, for commissioning in the summer, the S4 represents an investment of approximately €560 million. The project is divided into 3 operations: the building, infrastructures, aircraft areas and the Lisa* station, lastly, the automated Lisa train.
It will take two minutes to carry passengers across the 700 metres separating Terminal 2E from the new satellite. The station, located under the building, is already taking shape with its platforms built on both sides of the central platform.
The central structure is also taking shape. Over 175 metres long and 110 metres wide, it will house the security checkpoints, from where passengers can use the escalators to access the upper floor. A huge retail area organised in horseshoe form, is designed around a central space, and 3,500 sqm. of airline lounges. The "baggage box" is supposed to be located on the underground level, even if the baggage items are currently processed by the existing automated sorting system which will not be extended to S4. Lastly, to maintain activity while works are in progress, aircraft can continue to park around the site. In fact, a quarter of the aircraft parking areas are still in service and the roads will remain accessible throughout the construction time (two lane road).
One level per function
The S4 is of course designed with the same logic as the S3; remote boarding lounges joined by Lisa, spanning the east access roads of Paris-Charles de Gaulle. However, the two buildings have slightly different shapes, with a domed roof on S4 offering a large interior volume. The much larger central structure provides enhanced comfort to passengers at departure or in transit. But while S3 can be modulated to meet Shengen/International requirements, the S4 will be completely dedicated to international flights and receiving jumbo jets with 16 aircraft parking stands including 7 A380s at the same time. Furthermore, unlike its false twin, it will include a separate level for each function: on level – 1 the access roads and the Lisa track, on level 0 the security checkpoints, above the boarding area, and on the last level, the disembarkation area.
A project geared towards diversity and sustainable development
While most of the project's contract holders or subcontractors, (including 20 for the building alone), are European companies, some come from other far away places. 350 to 400 journeymen currently work on the site but we expect to have around 11,500 by the first half of 2011.
A specific environmental charter has been signed by all contractors involved in the S4 project: 15% of waste are recycled, the concrete from demolitions is crushed and recycled, and part of the excavated material is used as backfill to create serviced platforms, on the eastern side of the airport.
* LISA: "Liaison Intersatellite Aérogare", airport terminal inter-satellite link which already connects S3 to terminal 2E and which will be extended to S4.