The US$1.2 billion first phase of the new Madinah Airport was officially opened last week by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Phase one of the new airport which spans a total area of 4 million square metres will allow for a passenger handling capacity of eight million a year. This is to increase to 18 million and over 40 million passengers per annum in phase two and phase three respectively.
“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 industry’s growth through expansion, infrastructure development and privatization,” said Sulaiman Al-Hamdan, President of GACA.
The airport was built at a cost of US$1.2 billion through capital raised by the Kingdom’s 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.
“The focus of our recently rolled-out corporate strategy and plan is to transform Saudi Arabia’s 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 building spans 155,000 square metres 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 metres 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 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.