JEDDAH: The first phase of a massive expansion project for Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah will be completed in 2014, according to Ala Samman, director general of Business Development and Properties at Domestic Airports.

He said the contract to implement the project would be awarded to a winning company in October 2010 after reviewing the best offers.

Samman said the project would increase the airport’s annual capacity to 30 million, mostly pilgrims coming for Haj and Umrah. Samman further said the airport project would be carried out with the support of the public and private sectors following a BOT system.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has contracted with International Finance Corporation to prepare commercial, technical, legal and financial studies for the project.

Samman said GACA has taken into consideration the prospect of an increase in Umrah and Haj pilgrims over the next 30 years.

He said the project would reduce the pressure on King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the main gateway of pilgrims.