THE first phase of a £31million extension to Glasgow Airport's terminal opened to passengers today.

THE first phase of a £31million extension to Glasgow Airport's terminal opened to passengers today.

A major new ground floor arrivals hall for UK domestic flights was the first part of the project to be unveiled.

Renfrewshire Council Leader Derek Mackay greeted the first arriving domestic passengers through the new terminal extension, arriving from Belfast at 7.20am.

A bar and restaurant was also opened and other retail outlets will open soon in the new sky hub terminal.

The second phase of the development, a £12m security area, will come into operation next week, replacing the three existing search areas.

From next Tuesday all departing passengers will be routed through the central search area on the terminal's first floor.

The first passenger to arrive in a gleaming new arrivals hall was David Gordon, 30, from Belfast.

The procurement manager who travels to Glasgow every week on business was greeted by airport officials and Councillor Mackay who presented him with a bottle of champagne.

He said: "It's beautiful. I think a facelift for the airport is long overdue for such a big city. Glasgow needs an airport to match this cosmopolitan city."

Another passenger from the first flight to arrive from Belfast, Marguerite Gibney, 41, from Belfast said: "It's bigger, brighter than before and the new pub is very nice."

Passengers using Terminal 2 at the airport will also benefit as they will not have to go outside to get to their check-in area.

Roy McCubbin 46, from Carluke, who was flying to Paris, said: "It's great to be able to stay within the airport terminal to get to T2."

Russ Harris, 43, was waiting for a customer to arrive for a meeting.

He said: "It's a lot more welcoming, a lot less cluttered and it feels fresh. It's also more secure for the baggage area as before there weren't any doors there."

Derek Mackay, leader of Renfrewshire Council said: "The last time I was here I was cutting the soil.

"The airport is a key part of the west of Scotland economy. It's fantastic to see it developing in this way.

"I hope it symbolises a very bright future for the airport."

Managing director of Glasgow airport Amanda McMillan said: "The airport has been growing and this is a natural progression.

"It gives us a great new space for arriving passengers and gives us all the opportunity to meet and greet and move more freely through the building.

"I think it's fantastic. It's crisp, clean and airy. It's just a different class and when we open the new security area next week that will be the icing on the cake."

The project represents the biggest single investment in Glasgow Airport since the expansion of the early 1990s.

The extension features a revolutionary cladding system which converts energy from the sun, reducing the need for artificial heating and lighting.

A third phase, due to start this month, will see the existing terminal upgraded and refurbished to provide additional seating, new fashion stores and catering facilities.