Madinah airport spreads wings

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will open on Thursday the new Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the holy city.
Built on an area of 4 million square meters, the new airport would in its first phase handle 8 million passengers a year, increasing the number to 18 million in the second phase, and then 40 million after the third and final phase.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has been operating the airport on a trial basis since April to check systems. It is the first airport in the Kingdom constructed and operated entirely by the private sector.
GACA raised financing by forming partnerships with Saudi and foreign companies. The project was won by a consortium consisting of Al-Rajhi Holding Group, Saudi Oger and TAV Airports Holding.

The total investment for the first phase is $1.2 billion funded by the 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 main travelers’ building covers 155,000 square meters and has 72 check-in counters, of which eight are for larger size baggage, 24 counters for self check-in services, 26 passport counters for departures and the same number for arrivals. There is seating for 4,000 people.
Technologically advanced services include 36 elevators, 28 escalators and 23 conveyor belts, to facilitate and speed up the movement of passengers and luggage inside the passenger terminal complex.

In addition, the new airport features local and international shops, restaurants, and cafes, banking, and transport services including buses and taxis. 
Al-Hamdan said six external terminals have been built over a total area of 10,000 square meters. These terminals are strategically located close to the Haj terminal to facilitate and speed up procedures for arrivals and departures.
He said it is the first facility in the world outside America to abide by the standards for energy use stipulated by the United States Green Building Council.