Muscat International Airport expansion on track

A computer-generated rendering of the Muscat International Airport development

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The Muscat International Airport expansion project is on target to reach its completion date of April 2014, Oman Daily Observer reports.

The project is the largest ever to be undertaken in Oman and is designed to increase capacity at the airport to an initial 12 million passengers per annum.

The new airport, which will have the potential for further expansion should an increase in passenger numbers require it, will have a passenger terminal building spread over a total area of 334,995 square metres in the first phase.

The work, which was commissioned by the Omani Ministry of Transport and Communications, also involves the construction of the 97m high ATC Tower, which is expected to be completed by October 2012. The building will be the highest in Oman.

Bechtel-ENKA-BEC (BEB) Consortium is the design development and build contractor on the project while the project manager is ADPI.

A source at BEB said: “The passenger terminal building is based on a two-level concept which fully separates arrival and departure passengers.

“Departing passengers will be located at the upper level and arriving passengers at the lower level. These primary levels will be further supplemented with a number of mezzanine levels containing additional accommodation including a 90-bedroom airside hotel.”

The site will also see the building of a Data Centre, Crash Fire Rescue, Air Traffic and Meteorology complex, Contingency and Training, Guard House ATM Complex, ATM Complex Utility Yard, C and T Centre Utility Yard. The contract also includes an option for a Sea Rescue Building.

The terminal expansion will occur in four stages, reaching a total capacity up to 48 million passengers per annum in its final stages.

The project, which began in February 2012, is focusing on the key passenger processing area to reduce peak-time congestion and hopes to offer passengers an atmosphere of ease and convenient departure.

The new departures building will be equipped with new bathrooms, prayer rooms, smoking area and an improved variety of food outlets.

The interior at the first floor will have Omani themed decor with a mix of marble and carpet floors.