It said the project was offered in a restricted tender process and that the designs would be completed in 18 months after which the contract for the construction of the airport would be offered for public bidding.

President of GACA Faisal bin Hamad Al-Sughair said the expansion of Abha airport was part of plans to refurbish and reconstruct the regional airports.

He said the new generation of airports GACA was building aimed to ensure comfort for passengers through the installation of boarding bridges.

Al-Sughair said the new design of Abha regional airport would include the construction of 10 boarding bridges that would take the passengers from the aircraft to the airport.

He said on completion, the airport would have an annual capacity of 5 million passengers. He said 15 regional airports would be expanded or reconstructed.