JEDDAH, 22 October 2005 — The expansion plan for the Tabuk Regional Airport has taken into consideration the increasing air traffic to the region, Abdullah Ruhaimy, chairman of the Civil Aviation Corporation, has said.
He described Tabuk as the fourth largest regional airport in the Kingdom in terms of air traffic. “There has been considerable growth in the number of passengers” in recent years, Ruhaimy said, putting the growth rate at 4.5 percent.
The new airport is designed to serve passengers for several years to come, Ruhaimy said, adding that the project would increase the airport’s present area of 33,779 square meters by 12,000 square meters.
There will be a new departure lounge with a 3,345 square meter area. The project also includes a waiting hall for First Class passengers, an arrival lounge with an area of 3,690 square meters and a VIP lounge with 800 seats.
Ruhaimy said the airport would also have jet bridges to link the passengers from the gate to the plane. There will be additional parking facilities for two large aircraft and three medium aircraft and car parking space for 900 vehicles at the expanded airport, he said.
Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, has approved the plan. At present, the airport serves 60 domestic flights daily.
The Civil Aviation Corporation has already launched a $1.5 billion expansion for Jeddah’s King Abdul Aziz International Airport, which is designed to accommodate the world’s largest aircraft, including A380s.
Ruhaimy underscored the significance of Jeddah airport as it is the main gateway for pilgrims. The government is keen to implement the expansion project, which will increase the airport’s annual capacity to 21 million passengers.
The expansion of the Jeddah airport involves the construction of two new terminals and renovation of the existing south terminal, a new concourse with 25 gates, three connector buildings and an extensive upgrade of landside and airside infrastructure facilities.
Studies are under way to expand the Prince Muhammad Airport in Madinah in order to accommodate more than one million passengers including pilgrims annually.
The corporation has embarked on another project to expand the Bisha airport at a cost SR113 million. Work on the Bisha airport will be completed within two years.
The project includes construction of buildings for administration, cargo and postal service.
