By Dominic Welling

As part of the contract, the Oman government wants to see Salalah Airport become an international gateway that will have a significant impact on socio-economic development in the Dhofar Governorate.

In particular, the upgraded airport is intended to serve as an international and domestic hub for sea cargo in conjunction with the Port of Salalah and the Salalah Free Zone.

Tourist traffic and tourism investment in the region are expected to soar when the upgraded airport is operational by around 2014.

The contract will see the construction of a new passenger terminal covering an area of 71,000sqm and with a capacity to cater to one million passengers per annum.

Furthermore, a cargo terminal capable of handling up to 100,000 tonnes of airfreight per year will also be constructed as part of the project.

The consortium will also be tasked with the construction of a new 4km-long runway, large enough to handle the Airbus A380, which is among the largest civilian aircraft currently in operation.

A state-of-the-art air traffic control tower will be built as well, along with a modern Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility, fuel farm, catering building, and other facilities conforming to an international-class Code-F standard airport.

At the moment, the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Oman is overseeing the modernisation of both Muscat and Salalah international airports, as well as the development of domestic airports in Sohar, Duqm, Ras al Hadd and Adam.