The woes of Oman airport

The proposed new-look airport

The extension of Oman's main airport in Muscat has never been an easy task. The deadline for international firms to bid of the construction of a new terminal was repeatedly pushed back due to 'changes' after Cyclone Gonu forced changes in the plan. However it has now been announced that the extension will be delayed by another two years due to runway excavations 'hitting seawater'.

According to an Oman government official, "The Muscat airport extension will now be completed in 2014, not in 2012 as expected due to soft ground which contractors come across in some places."

The additional delays are expected to cost an extra $500 million as the government pays for reinforcements to fill affected ground in places where seawater has been found.

Multiple bidders

Last year, Oman awarded a joint venture of Turkey's TAV Construction and Athens based Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) a US$1.17 billion contract for civil works for the Muscat airport.

However, the deadline for the terminal construction tenders is still open till August 31.

The project has attracted the interest of firms such as French Vinci and Indian Larsen & Toubro, but Oman is said to have short-listed six firms for the the US$1.4 billion scheme including Bechtel, the largest US engineering firm, Saudi Binladen Group, Athens-based Consolidated Contractors Co (CCC) and Joannou & Paraskevaides from Cyprus.

The expansion includes construction of a new terminal building, 32 air bridges, a new runway and an upgrade of the existing runway, a 90-metre high control tower and an air traffic management centre, and 6,000 parking spaces.

The airport expansion plans hopes to see the passenger numbers increase from four million a year to 12 million once works are completed.

New airports are also being planned at Duqm, Ras Al Hadd, Musandam and Sohar. Air traffic in the Middle East is the fastest growing in the world and countries and emirates all over the region are expanding their airports and increasing the number of flights accordingly.

Relevant articles:

Saudi Arabia's airport modernisation plans | Abu Dhabi International Airport seeks bids | Work begins on Qatar's epic rail project

Timon Singh

Timon Singh is a graduate of Liverpool University where he received a degree in Social and Economic History. He has previously worked for BBC Magazines on BBC Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, the publication for the popular genealogy show.

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