JEDDAH, 16 January 2007 — The challenges and logistics of the new King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah were the subject of a seminar in Jeddah yesterday. Saudi and UK experts, here on a short visit, presented their areas of expertise to interested parties invited to the event with a view to exploring possibilities and developing approaches to the construction, operation, management and maintenance of the vast project.
The seminar was opened by Abdukllah Rehaimi, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). British Ambassador Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles welcomed the audience.
Alan McCartney, vice chairman of the British Airports Group (BAG) said the multi-skilled group, following up an exploratory visit he made last year, brought a complete range of expertise to assist in producing an efficient modern airport.
“The group of airport experts has skills that can take the project all the way through from airport design, through airspace design to fitting out the facility,” he said.
He added that the key was the ability for both partners to be able to communicate effectively and on a personal basis to manage the project efficiently.
The seminar said McCartney is a joint Saudi-British approach to the airport project.
Liaising closely with the GACA, the group will review the project and share expertise. The design of the airport he said had been finalized. The hardware of the airport is now decided, he added.
The services, management and operating procedures will now be slotted into the design. “There will be changes as the project develops,” he said,” but that is to be expected.
Omar Saeed of the British Trade Mission in Jeddah and organizer of the visit said that the BAG was extremely experienced in the business of commissioning airports.
“They have been involved in high profile projects that range from the new terminal five at Heathrow — very much on time and on budget, to the new Hong Kong airport and terminal three at Beijing,” he said.
Many of the members of the visiting group were involved in that project, he added.
Addressing the detail of the airport was important even in the early stages, Mike Freeman of Integrated Project Management, said.
Baggage management, screening for security and efficient flow of passenger luggage are areas that require considerable forward planning to work efficiently, he added.
John Davy of Vector Management said the efficiency of aviation in the west was very largely a result of privatization. “It has allowed measures to be introduced that took it far beyond the levels when airports and air travel were small and state-provided,” he said.
The BAG group visited local construction firms and providers of services who have an interest in airport construction.
