Sultan to lay stone for KAIA project

JEDDAH,Jan 10, 2011 (Arab News): Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, will lay the foundation stone for the new high-tech King Abdulaziz International Airport here on Tuesday. The project will increase the airport's annual capacity from 17 to 30 million passengers.

"The new airport is designed to accommodate the growing number of passengers including pilgrims," said Abdullah Rehaimi, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). It will also make KAIA one of the major international airports, he added.

Last November, Prince Sultan signed two contracts worth SR27.1 billion with Saudi Binladin Group to carry out the KAIA expansion project, which includes the construction of a new terminal and infrastructure facilities.

"The new airport is designed in the form of two crescents to reflect its position as the main gateway to the two holy mosques," he said.

The project, which will be completed in three years, aims to make KAIA a high-tech airport that can receive huge aircrafts and a hub to link the East and the West providing numerous investment opportunities and jobs for Saudis, said Rehaimi.

As part of the first contract, worth SR15.12 billion, a 670,000-square-meter terminal with 94 aircraft bays will be constructed to replace the present terminals for Saudia and foreign airlines. It will include 200 counters, an advanced luggage handling system, 46 departure gates, five passenger lounges, 96 airway bridges and a 56-room hotel for transit passengers. The second contract, worth SR11.97 billion, includes construction of the world's tallest airport control tower at 133 meters, car parks to accommodate 8,200 cars, three power generation and cooling centers, data administration centers, infrastructure and road networks.

The project also includes the building of tunnels, corridors, train stations and communications and meteorological systems.

irfield works include construction of taxiways, aprons, roads, and services and support facilities.

- Jan 10, 2011