A NEW Costa Coffee shop has opened at Bournemouth Airport with the onsite pub also seeing a “major makeover”.

The Costa Coffee shop, which seats 40 people, is one of the first in the UK to feature a new design.

Passengers will be able to choose from a range of coffees and snacks from muffins to flapjacks, cakes and pastries to sandwiches before boarding their flight.

While “traditional British pub” The Navigator, which has 298 covers, has also been revamped courtesy of TRG Concessions.

Nick Ayerst, managing director of TRG Concessions, said: “The addition of Costa and The Navigator show TRG Concessions’ ambition to give Bournemouth Airport’s growing audience the ultimate pub and coffee experience before their flight. We look forward to welcoming all who visit for years to come.”

Stephen Gill, Bournemouth Airport’s Managing Director, said the decision of TRG Concessions to invest in its operations reflected growing confidence in the airport.

He added: “Increasingly passengers are appreciating the convenience of flying from their local airport.

“We handled more than 690,000 passengers in 2018 but expect to see that figure increase by up to 20 per cent this year.

“Our business plan is to double passenger numbers to 1.5 million within five years which we consider to be absolutely achievable. Great facilities, such as the Navigator pub and Costa, can only be good news for our passengers, especially if they’re offering local products.”