Airport Updates: Latest News On The Global Market (W/C Sept. 14, 2026)

The latest news on airports globally, with updates on financing, infrastructure expansion and sustainability initiatives.

Athens International Airport (ATH) said it will launch a tender for the initial phase of a North Terminal expansion project. The airport expects the first phase to be completed by the end of 2030 at a cost of €950 million ($1.1 billion). ATH said its phased approach to North Terminal expansion “is intended to position [the airport] to capture continued traffic growth while maintaining disciplined capital allocation, operational resilience and increased flexibility via a modular implementation strategy.” ATH handled 15.8 million passengers in the first half of 2026, up 4.5% year over year. Revenue for the six-month period totaled €299.6 million, down 2.8% from the first half of 2025. The decline was “mainly driven” by a temporary 30% passenger terminal facility charge discount in effect from Oct. 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, according to ATH. The airport’s net profit for the first half of 2026 was €81.4 million, down 11.6% year over year.

Vasil Levski Sofia Airport (SOF) in Bulgaria started construction of a solar power plant on airport grounds. The photovoltaic facility will span 50,000 m² (538,000 ft.²) and have 8,300 solar modules. The plant will have five megawatts of power capacity. Electricity produced by the facility will be used by SOF and cover “a significant share” of its energy consumption, the airport said. Bulgarian company Hydroenergy has been contracted to build the power plant. SOF expects the project to be completed by the end of 2026.

Autonomous wheelchair provider WHILL will deploy up to 18 units at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). The wheelchairs “will be progressively deployed across the transit areas of Terminals 2 and 3,” WHILL said. The company previously conducted a trial of 10 autonomous wheelchairs at SIN. “The rollout is part of a broader airport ground services model designed to integrate autonomous mobility into terminal operations,” WHILL said. Airport staff will remotely dispatch the wheelchairs to arrival gates based on incoming flight schedules. “Once dispatched, a WHILL unit greets passengers disembarking at the gate and autonomously transports them to the special service lounge for passengers with reduced mobility,” the company said. “For connecting passengers, the WHILL unit is redeployed … to carry them onward to their next boarding gate.”

Spain's flag carrier Iberia opened a new premium lounge at Madrid-Barajas Airport, located  in ​​Terminal 4 immediately after the security screening area. The lounge, which spans 800 m² (8,610 ft.²), features “private suite-style rest cabins designed to allow travelers to isolate themselves and relax before their flight, as well as showers and new comfort and cosmetic amenities,” Iberia said. “Spanish gastronomy takes center stage with an offering that evolves throughout the day, featuring tapas and Iberian products, traditional pastries and a 360-deg. bar with continuous bartender and barista service.”

United Airlines started a pilot program at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in which passengers on select flights can order food and travel items—such as charging cords or over-the-counter medicine—in advance for pick up at departure gates. Orders will be placed on designated shelves at up to nine gates in Terminal C where the pilot program is taking place. United is collaborating with select restaurants at EWR and said it will “collect customer feedback throughout the pilot [program] to evaluate interest in the service and inform potential future expansion to other airports.” The service at EWR will be available on select flights departing from or connecting through designated gates between C125 and C138, which serve both domestic and international departures. United has plans to expand the pilot program to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, later this year.