RIYADH: King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Dammam recently signed a contract to establish and run a private aviation terminal with XP Jet America reflecting the need for a dedicated building to serve private aircraft owners.

The contract was signed in the presence of well-known businessmen including private aircraft owners and the media. The project is expected to be completed in about two years.

The contract was signed with XP Jet America because it is one of the industry’s most powerful and biggest companies in the construction and operation of buildings with the most advanced and modern techniques.

The terminal will contain a special aviation building located north of the royal pavilion on a private courtyard that will be able to accommodate dozens of aircraft of various sizes. The airport recently floated investment opportunities, banking on its growth and profitability. The airport had a rapid growth in air traffic last year, posting a growth rate of 16 percent over 2013. This was the airport’s largest air traffic growth rate since its opening in 1999.

Airport management said that it was expecting to achieve unprecedented air traffic growth this year, with passengers exceeding nine million.

The improved traffic and service of KFIA is part of the commitment of the local airport authority reflecting the growth taking place in various sectors of the Kingdom.