Saudi King opens US$1.2 billion Madinah airport with a fully operational passenger capacity of 40 million per year
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques officially opened the Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, a city renowned as the second holiest place in Islam after Mecca. Phase one of the new airport which spans a total area of 4 million square meters will allow for a passenger handling capacity of eight million a year, which will increase to 18 million and over 40 million passengers per annum in phase two and phase three respectively.
The airport was built at a cost of US$1.2 billion through capital raised by the Kingdoms General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) from National Commercial Bank, Saudi British Bank and Arab National Bank under the supervision of the International Finance Authority, a member of the World Bank Group.
Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport has the distinction of being the first airport outside of USA to receive the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is also the first airport in Saudi Arabia to be constructed and operated entirely by the private sector following a BTO (Build-Transfer-Operate) Agreement signed in 2012 with Tibah Airports Operations Company Limited, a consortium consisting of TAV Airports Holding, Al-Rajhi Holding and Saudi Oger. The ownership of the airport is with GACA which also oversees the operations of the Kingdoms 27 existing airports.
In April 2014, GACA commenced operational trials of the airport continuing until the official opening, to ensure the readiness of the airport for commercial operations.
H.E. Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, President of GACA said, This new international airport is of strategic importance to Muslims all over the world serving as the gateway to Madinah which is home to the second Haram Al Sharif, as well as to GACA being the first of a series of new airports that we will open across the Kingdom in an effort to build a sustainable and profitable modern airport system. The government is drawing up several efforts to increase its non-oil revenues and GACA is a leading contributor to these economic diversification efforts, driving the civil aviation industrys growth through expansion, infrastructure development and privatization.
The focus of our recently rolled-out corporate strategy and plan is to transform Saudi Arabias aviation sector profitability and performance by encouraging foreign investments and privatizing the management and operation of our airports. The new Madinah airport is the first in a series of airports that will be privatized to further elevate passenger services and experiences, added Al-Hamdan.
The main travelers building spans 155,000 square meters and has 72 check-in counters of which 8 are for large-sized baggage as well as 24 self-check-in counters in addition to 26 passport control counters at departure as well as arrival. The airport has 6 external terminals strategically located within close proximity of the Hajj terminal, with a total area of 10,000 square meters and seating capacity of 4,000. It features several local and international shops, restaurants and cafes as well as banking and transportation services including buses and taxis. The airport also features technologically advanced passenger and baggage conveyance services with 36 elevators, 28 escalators and 23 conveyor belts, all in place to facilitate and speed up the movement of passengers and luggage inside the terminals.
