how good is he wrote:I think the biggest shame is the overhead ramp (to departures) will never exist again. I still can't understand the logic. Isn't it worse to combine travellers from both arrivals & departures in the same area? And what's to stop a terrorist driving in a bomb there? Do you know if other airports in Aust. have kept there public roads (elevated or not) open to the front of the airport doors?
We've discussed this a few times before, although not for a little while.
All the major airports in Australia have different arrangements to various degrees. Essentially this is because there are transport security guidelines issued by the Federal Government for front-of-house arrangements at airports, but they are exactly that -- i.e. guidelines, not rules. So airports have adopted them to whatever degree they see fit based on a range of considerations.
Obviously airports are a place where large groups of people will gather, so of course there is the opportunity for mass casualties from a terrorist attack. The main consideration is to keep such an opportunity limited to areas away from terminal buildings, hence the separation between the terminal and pick-up/drop-off area.
Personally, I have absolutely no problem with the sub-100m walk to the terminal, but I do agree that the mixing of pick-ups and drop-offs isn't ideal. And it is a little bit annoying that you can't be dropped off at the same level as check-in. Perhaps a 'first world problem', though. I can't say it's something that keeps me awake at night.
PS: Love the hotel renders. Other potential users will be passengers of the late-evening Emirates and Qatar flights where the flight is delayed and can't make it out before curfew. On the rare occasion that happens, it's going to save the airline a fortune in taxi fares to and from the city!