Two new terminals in Alexandria and one in Assiut under construction add to projects in Hurghada and Cairo, says Amirah Ibrahim Last week, aviation authorities signed three contracts to construct a new terminal building for Hurghada airport, a new commercial and touristic city and a new transit hotel for Cairo International Airport. The contract to construct Hurghada airport's new terminal -- the result of an extensive bidding process undertaken in accordance with international guidelines -- went to Saudi Bin Laden Group, an increasingly powerful presence on the region's construction scene. The Bin Laden Group constructed the Sharm El-Sheikh TB2 three years ago which took the airport's capacity from three million passengers to seven million passengers a year. The signing is part of more long-term plans to increase Hurghada airport's capacity from the current 5.6 to 13 million passengers a year. "The terminal's capacity is 7.5 million passengers a year," explained Medhat Hendawi, chairman of the Egyptian Airport Company. "The new terminal will consist of two arrival and departure halls as well as a transit hall; it is designed to accommodate up to 20 aircraft at any one time. It is planned to serve 11 aircraft through the tubes and 9 more remote aircraft," Hendawi added. The new terminal constructions will cover 91,500 square metres. A new tarmac and four-kilometre long runway will be part of this phase as well. Hendawi signed with Bin Laden's representative Mohamed Ahmed for the construction works which are due to be completed within 36 months. The LE1.6 billion project is financed through a loan provided by the Arab Development Fund. Five years ago, airports authorities conducted a LE50 million upgrade of the existing facilities of Hurghada airport by more than 5,000 metres, allowing separate areas for domestic and international flights. More visa counters and check-in scanners were provided. But the airport could not meet the growing traffic expected to jump up to 11 million passengers a year. The second contract to construct a new transit hotel inside the land area of Cairo International Airport went to Bin Laden as well. According to Ibrahim Manna, head of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, the new facility will be constructed near Cairo International's TB3. "The hotel will consist of 330 rooms, 10 royal suites and ten luxury suites," explained Manna. "It will also include a huge ballroom, three restaurants and three swimming pools in addition to eight spa pools," he added. Manna signed for the hotel with Omar Bin Laden, the group's executive manager. "The contracts," Bin Laden, explained, "reflect the Egyptian government's confidence in our abilities." He explained that the LE500 million construction was scheduled to be completed within 30 months. The third contract is to design the first entertainment city allocated for air show and aviation activities. The project which has been named Aero City is planned to be located within the investment zone of Cairo International between the Suez Desert Road and the Ring Road. "Airports today are commercial projects whose performance should always be geared towards profit," Stated Mannaa. "Cairo International makes 65 per cent of its revenues from commercial operations. This new facility will expand to increase profits out of nonaviation activities," he added. The Aero City is planned to occupy 2.7 million square metres. It will consist of a Front Zone including a commercial complex constructed on 479,300 sqare metres. "The complex consists of shops, commercial centres, 18 cinema halls, food courts and entertaining facilities," Manna explained. The city will include a Back Zone or leisure zone; constructed on 2.3 million square metres. "This zone will include five stars hotels, a Disneyland simulation, lakes and dancing fountains, an open air theatre, Aqua Park, restaurants and a food outlet." The preliminary estimate shows that the first phase is due to cost LE950 million and to be completed within 36 months.
