[Sudanese aviator]

Muscat Airport moves closer to opening

Photo - ONA

https://www.timesofoman.com/Siteimage...14_6_16_33.jpg

Muscat: Seventy-two per cent of the work on the new Muscat International Airport has been completed, as the landmark project moves closer to its opening date.

That part of the project which constituted the main contracts one and two (MC I and II), is nearly complete, according to officials who toured the huge construction site on Sunday. Meanwhile, Salalah's new airport is also progressing well — it is 85 per cent finished.

Test flight
Preparations are on for the February 16 test flight on the newly completed runway at Muscat Airport, which has two parallel runways that can receive Airbus A380, the world's largest aircraft.

Work to install equipment in the recently completed 97 metre-high air control tower (ATC) will begin soon. The new runway and the air control tower are expected to be inaugurated soon.

The civil work, including new runway, taxiway, apron, landside development and access road to terminals, are part of the MC I.

CFR
The ATC, air traffic management, data centre, or DC2, contingency and training building, along with crash, fire and rescue facilities, known as CFR, are detailed in the MC II. Minister of Transport and Communications Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Futaisi expressed his satisfaction over the quality of work and its pace.

"It is a good achievement," he told the Times of Oman.

However, Ahmed Al Futaisi said that there was some delay in the passenger terminal building construction, which is part of the MC III. He added that this work was delayed when a ship carrying steal frames and other building materials recently sank.

He noted that the contractors responsible for work on the passenger terminal building have been asked to submit their new work schedules and finish their projects without compromising on the quality of the construction work. The airport project being reviewed is a joint venture with Bechtel-ENKA-Bahwan Engineering Company.



Futaisi said, "Before we can indicate the date of the completion of the project, we are waiting for the new programme so we will know when they will be able to complete this project and how much of an increase in manpower resources is required."

Ahmed Al Futaisi inspected the work underway at the new Muscat International Airport project site yesterday, meeting with the main contractors.

Futaisi said, "The work on the passenger terminal building has a very long way to go. We are pressuring them to finish the project quickly, without compromising the quality. As a client, we want a very high quality of work."

He added that the work on the connecting roads has also been completed. This includes bridges inside the airport and on Sultan Qaboos Street. The Muscat Municipality is very near to completing the bridge connecting the airport. It is also working to connect the expressway with the airport. "Infrastructure-wise, we are getting close to the end," he said.



Local richness
Regarding the design, the minister said the new building would be a very modern airport, though the architecture retains a local taste.

"We saw Omani marble and local patterns on the windows, as well as marble. It reflects the local richness of patterns. The architects have planned the internal appearance based on the natural diversity of Oman, including mountains, wadis, deserts and sand. This will be reflected on the walls, carpets and the entire design of the interior of the airport. It will showcase our diverse and rich cultural identity," explained Futaisi.

12 million passengers
Once the first stage of the project is complete, the new Muscat International Airport will be able to handle 12 million passengers per year. In its second, third and fourth stages, the airport will expand to have the ability to handle 24 million, 36 million and 48 million passengers per year.

Also, the airport will have 96 check-in counters, 29 passenger boarding bridges, 30 aircraft remote stands, a baggage processing capacity of 5,500 bags per hour, and a hotel with 90 rooms.
There will also be 30 aircraft remote stands.

Additionally, the new airport will have a car parking capacity of 8,000 vehicles. There will also be 20 self-service check in kiosks, 31 emigration counters — for departures, 56 immigration counters — for arrivals, 29 boarding bridges or contact stands, 10 bus boarding lounges, and the ability to cater 24,000 meals per day.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications also updated the public on the progress of three domestic airports in Sohar, A'Duqm and Ras Al Hadd. The works at these airports are distributed in three packages.



The first package for all airports has been completed. The work of the second package is complete in Sohar and A'Duqm airport while at Ras Al Hadd airport, it is 88 per cent done.

The ground levelling, electrical extension and communication works have been completed at Sohar and A'Duqm airport. They are expected to become operational this month. Visits are now being paid to Ras Al Hadd to complete the final designs.

The ministry plans to open temporary passenger terminals until the third package works on these airports is completed.

The tenders of the third package have been floated and are expected to be awarded during the first half of this year.

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[KoRn]

منطقة الخليج تشهد تسارع وقرب افتتاح مشاريع المطارات
بمده زمنية متقاربة ابتداء من مطار حمد والكنكورس 4 دبي
وجدة الدولي....

[Sudanese aviator]

^^ اتفق معك مطار مسقط الدولي الجديد في راي مهمل قليلا من العامة وكل محط النظر لمطار جدة الجديد ومطار حمد انا ضخصا اول مرة اعرف ان المل وشك على الانتهاء اعتقدت بالبداية

[KoRn]

^^
صحيح مهمل مسقط الدولي
انا وصلني الخبر من هاذا الموضوع
وايضا لاننسى الصاله الجديده لمطار ابوظبي