The Government of Qatar Signs Contract with Bechtel to Develop the New Doha International Airport

The Government of Qatar has awarded US giant engineering and project management company Bechtel the contract to develop the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), which will cost QAR9.125 billion (US$2.5 billion) for phase one alone.

Bechtel's engineering, project and construction management (EPCM) contract will include the design, project management and construction management of the new facilities covering a site of approximately 2,200 hectares.

"The New Doha International Airport will be designed to be one of the best airports in the world. We feel Bechtel's vast expertise will make our new airport set the benchmark for all future airports. It will be an international signature for the vision of Qatar," said Abdul Aziz Mohamed Al-Noami, Chairman of the Board and Managing Director of the Civil Aviation Authority.

"We are delighted to have been selected to work in partnership with the Government of Qatar in this exciting project" said Dr. James Van Hoften, Bechtel's Senior Vice President; "the new airport will position Doha and Qatar as a leading regional aviation hub for the next 50 years".

The new green-field airport will be situated approximately four kilometers east of the existing airport. It will feature two runways mostly constructed on reclaimed land, an opening date capacity to handle 12 million passengers a year, with a 24-gate passenger terminal complex, including 25,000 square metres devoted to retail space. A new Amiri Terminal with additional hardstands, cargo terminal buildings, aircraft hangars and associated airline and airport ancillary features. The complex will also include three high-star classification hotels for the convenience of visitors, as well as transfer passengers.

"The airport will also be pivotal to the continued significant growth of Qatar Airways as a global airline. The new airport will allow us to offer our passengers fast and efficient connections as we build a route network of at least 60 destinations by the end of 2005," Mr Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer of Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways said.

Forecasted for maximum development in 2015, construction of the new state-of-the-art airport will be implemented in three phases. Phase one, due to commence this year, will cost over US$2.5 billion and will include reclaiming nearly half of the site from the Gulf with 50 million cubic metres of fill, a 140,000 square metre three-storey terminal with 24 contact gates and three major road interchanges to access the new airport. Detailed design work will commence this year and continue throughout 2005 as the site is reclaimed and construction of the new major facilities will begin in 2005.

As traffic and demand grows, the mid-term phase will see the addition of a further 16 contact gates and an extension of the terminal building to 219,000 square metres and a suspended monorail or ''people mover' to transport passengers through the terminal.

The final phase of development will include the addition of another 40 contact gates, bringing the final total to 80, together with a further extension to the terminal building to 416,000 square metres, capable of handling 50 million passengers per year.

NDIA will be the world's first airport to be designed and built from the ground-up, specifically for the Airbus A380-800 - the world's largest passenger aircraft. On completion of phase one during late 2008, the airport will be able to accommodate two A380-800s at any one time. By the time the airport is fully developed, it will be capable to accommodate six A380-800s.

Rudy Vercelli, Bechtel's Director of Global Strategic Development said: "We look forward to bringing over 50 years of experience in aviation infrastructure and to deliver a premiere world-class facility and a subject of pride to the people of Qatar."

Project Data

Phase One of the new airport development will be completed by late 2008 or early 2009. It alone will cost over US$ 2.5 billion, and will include:

· Reclaiming nearly 50 per cent of the site from the sea with approximately 50 million cubic metres of fill.

· One 4,850-metre runway capable of taking a fully laden A380-800. 

· Another 4,250-metre runway.

· A 140,000 square metre three-storey Terminal with 24 contact gates, two of which will cater to the A380-800. The terminal will have a capacity of 12 million passengers per annum.

· At least seven remote gates.

· An airport hotel adjacent to the terminal, and one 100-room hotel within the terminal for transit passengers.

· More than 25,000 square metres of retail facilities and comfortable lounges. 

·Multi-storey short-term and long-term parking.

· An Amiri (Royal) Terminal complex for VIP flights.

· An Aircraft Maintenance Centre with hangers that can accommodate two A380-800s and three A-340s at any one time.

· A cargo facility with a capacity of 750,000 tonnes per annum. It will have eight hardstand aircraft parking bays.

· General Aviation Terminal and hanger.

· A courier and mail facility.

· A free trade zone and business park.

· A new Qatar Airways' Headquarters building.

· New Qatar Airways' training facilities that will include flight simulators.

· Three road Interchanges to access the new airport from Ras Aboud Road.

The Mid-term Phase of the new airport development will include:

· The addition of a further 16 contact gates and five remote gates. Of the total 40 contact gates, four will cater to A380-800s.

· Extension of terminal building to 219,000 square metres, to handle 24 million passengers per annum.

· A 'People Mover' or suspended monorail that will transport passengers through the terminal.

· An additional 100-room hotel for transit passengers.

The Final Phase of the new airport development will include:

· The addition of another 40 contact gates, so that the terminal will have a total of 80 contact gates - six of them will cater to A380-800s.

· The further extension of the terminal building to 416,000 square metres, to handle 50 million passengers per annum.

Until the new airport is opened, the existing airport is to be significantly upgraded to handle the increase in passenger growth. Qatar Airways has already announced a US$ 38 million programme to upgrade the terminal this year, as part of a broader US$ 140 million programme to increase the annual capacity of the airport from 4.2 million to 7.5 million passengers.