Cairo International Airport's third terminal, which doubles passenger capacity, is complete, reports Amirah Ibrahim Eighteen months behind schedule Cairo International Airport's new terminal, TB3, has been opened. President Hosni Mubarak officially inaugurated the new facility last week though it is not yet operational. Aviation Minister Ahmed Shafiq welcomed Mubarak, who arrived by helicopter, at the Suez Ring Road. The president then headed direct to TB3 using a newly constructed road, built in just six months. The LE100 million road circumvents the access problems that previously marred travel to Cairo Airport via Orouba Street and Autostrad. "The new terminal will make a significant contribution to Egypt's air transport future. It will play a leading role in consolidating Egypt's position as a world centre for the aviation business and air travel," said Shafiq, who briefed Mubarak on the new facility. Shafiq indicated that the new facility would be fully operational within three months. "We want to make absolutely sure that all systems at Terminal 3 work smoothly and that customers experience nothing short of world- class facilities and service. It is for this reason that we decided to make Terminal 3 fully operational in phases," he said. The new terminal cost $350 million, $280 million provided by the World Bank and $70 million by the Egyptian government. Designed to handle 11 million passengers a year, the terminal includes 164,000 square metres of built-up area, including the three- level central building, two extendible capacity aircraft piers, gate facilities with 15 stands, and a concourse connecting the two piers with the main terminal. It will be able to accommodate the latest A- 380 superjumbo aircraft. The new runway and apron control tower under construction will expand the current capacity of 100,000 to 600,000 flights per year. Both are due to be completed by the end of 2009. Associated airside works include taxiing facilities, aprons, roads, drainage, flood lighting, a visual docking guidance system, passenger loading bridges, and full aircraft support services. Landside works include bridges and flyovers serving traffic to and from the terminal building. The new Terminal 3 has the ability to expand to three times its size within the next 30 years. Ibrahim Mannaa, head of the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation, led journalists, photographers and cameramen around the facility following President Mubarak's visit. "Terminal 3 and its associated developments represent a much needed expansion of Egypt's aviation infrastructure. It will play an important role in supporting economic progress, and reaffirm the city's image as an emerging global aviation hub," said Mannaa. A phased transition of EgyptAir's operations means the national carrier's passengers will be the first to fly from the new facility, followed by those of Star Alliance airlines. "The national carrier, TB3's main customer, will transfer international and domestic flights along in a gradual move. Then the Star Alliance airlines operating in Egypt will follow," explained Mannaa. "Raising passengers' service standards at CIA is at the heart of our strategy. The soft opening will be implemented in phases, to ensure that systems and processes are working to the highest standards of efficiency, enabling customers to make their way through the facility as easily and speedily as possible," Fathi Fathallah, CIA chairman, told journalists. A mono-rail to transport passengers between the airport's three terminals is scheduled to be completed within 12 months and a multi-garage is planned between TB3 and TB2 to serve both terminals.
