Saudi to invite new tenders to operate and manage Jeddah airport

RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has terminated the contract that it awarded to Changi Airports International (CAI)–led consortium to manage and operate the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA).

“New tenders will be invited in a public bidding, which will be announced shortly. This procedure will not affect the timetable set for the initial opening and experimental operation of the new airport in May this year,” Al-Sabq reported quoting GACA sources.

GACA emphasized that the decision is consistent with the terms and conditions of the contract signed between the two parties.

CAI, a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore’s Changi Airport Group, had been picked in June 2017 from among other bidders such as Malaysia Airports Holdings and France’s Aeroports de Paris Management.

The consortium on Wednesday confirmed that it has received notice from GACA terminating the agreement for the operation and management of the new King Abdullah Aziz International Airport in Jeddah. “The consortium notes that GACA has chosen to terminate the agreement for the operation and management of the new King Abdullah Aziz International Airport, Jeddah, in accordance with the concession agreement,” said a press release issued by the consortium.