AMMAN (JT) - The new passenger terminal in Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) will be ready in August 2011, while intensive work is under way on the existing building to improve services offered to passengers, according to Airport International Group (AIG), the consortium responsible for developing and operating the airport.
During a press tour last week, AIG said work is ongoing at the existing passenger terminal to facilitate arrival and departure procedures for passengers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Omar Omeish, director of the projects management unit at the Ministry of Transport, said the ministry's role is to supervise and monitor the agreement signed with the consortium, which was handed over the $700 million megaproject for the rehabilitation, expansion and operation of QAIA in November 2007.
Under the terms of the 25-year concession agreement, AIG will be responsible for airport operations, the rehabilitation of existing facilities and the construction of the new passenger terminal.
AIG CEO Curtis Grad said the project will be carried out in two phases, noting that at the end of the first phase in 2010 the airport's total capacity will rise to nine million passengers annually, while at the end of the second phase the capacity will expand to 12 million passengers.
He added that the 17 per cent rise in the number of passengers this year had also increased the responsibility shouldered by the group, which necessitated extending improved services to a large number of passengers with limited capabilities, Petra reported.
Work on the departure hall at the airport included upgrading lighting, air conditioning, toilets, security-check booths for women, among others, the news agency said.
A special counter was also set up for people with disabilities, the duty-free area was expanded and isolated areas designated for smokers.
AIG consists of the Edgo Group, Noor Financial Investment Company, Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Limited, J&P-Avax, Abu Dhabi Investment Company and Aeroports de Paris Management, which won the tender floated by the government in April 2007 and signed the rehabilitation, expansion and operation agreement on May 19, 2007.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, assisted the government in structuring the transaction. The IFC is providing up to $120 million in financing and mobilising up to $180 million in funds.
© Jordan Times 2008
