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Tenders floated for airport terminals

By A. E. James

MUSCAT: A move to build Ras Al Hadd and Adam airports has taken one step ahead, with the Tender Board floating two separate tenders to construct terminal buildings.

The Tender Board floated these tenders yesterday seeking local and international construction companies to pre-qualify themselves for participating in contracts to design and construct two terminal buildings - one for Ras Al Hadd with a capacity to handle 500,000 passengers per annum and another one for Adam to handle 250,000 passengers per annum.

This is part of a major government initiative to build four regional airports, which include Sohar and Al Duqm, to meet the increasing travel demand from tourists, businessmen and local community.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications is overseeing the development of new regional airports. As many as five international and local companies -- Taylor Woodrow International, Carillion Alawi , MAPA Construction and Trade, Bahwan Contracting and 115 Cunstruction & Installation -- have already evinced interest in Ras Al Hadd airport terminal project on the first day of floating the tender.
Likewise, Taylor Woodrow International has already bought tender documents for Adam airport project. Both tender documents will be distributed till December 8 and the same will open for pre-qualification on January 10.

Adam airport operations

As far as the development of Ras Al Hadd airport is concerned, construction is progressing for airside work, after completing civil works. The whole project include construction of a four-kilometre-long runway, taxiways and air navigation and meteorology system.

Majority of work of Adam airport, except the terminal building, is also complete. In fact, Adam airport has partially started operation with an inaugural VVIP flight from Muscat recently landing at the airport.
Although VVIP flights are flying in Muscat-Adam sector depending on the requirement, the airport will open for scheduled commercial flights only by end of 2012, with the completion of a terminal building, according to sources at the Oman Airports Management Company.

Adam airport, a green field airport 30km away from Adam town, is the first one to be commissioned among the four regional airports planned by the government to link regions with Muscat.

A runway length of 4km has been built for this airport.

As far as the development of the green field Sohar airport is concerned, work is progressing on several fronts, after awarding two packages. The design work is progressing for the terminal building, which will be able to handle around 500,000 passengers per annum, Eng Said bin Khalfan Al Maskari, director of Projects, Civil Aviation Affairs at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, recently said in a conference.

Domestic airport

A tender for the terminal building will be floated by the Tender Board soon. The runway length is envisaged at 4km. The initial contracts, including site preparation and construction of access road, were bagged by Strabag Oman.

When operational in 2013, the domestic airport will also serve as an alternative to Muscat International Airport in the event of any contingency. The development of Al Duqm airport is also progressing, after awarding the landside civil works.

While financial tender analysis is going on for the airside civil work package, design work for the terminal building is progressing. Like Sohar and other airports, the terminal building will have a capacity to handle 500,000 passengers per annum and the gross floor area is envisaged at 13,350 square metres, with a parking facility for 300 cars.

© Times of Oman 2010