As it deals with an influx of winter visitors to the region, Geneva International Airport in Switzerland has become the first airport to make use of a mobile terminal designed to help with passenger overflow.
The terminal, built by Austrian company TMT Management, is a tent-like structure that can be installed and assembled within a week, and easily disassembled and moved to another location.
"The terminal can be used not only to handle surges of passengers, but also to back up airports hit by natural disasters and when major sports events are held in a catchment area," explained TMT managing director, Thomas Melcher.
The Swiss airport is employing the new temporary terminal for the winter season, when it becomes flooded with winter vacationers and athletes looking to hit one of the city’s many ski slopes.
"We have been looking for something like this for years," said Robert Deillon, the airport’s director.
The temporary structure, which can be modified to serve as either an arrival or departure terminal, will also be used by the Geneva airport during upcoming renovations.