Habtoor Leighton Group (HLG) in a joint venture with TAV and Al Rajhi has secured a SAR2.87bn ($765m) contract as part of the redevelopment of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Under the contract, the JV will construct a new maintenance, repair and overhaul facility (MRO) for Saudi Aerospace and Engineering Industries (SAEI) at the airport.

Work on the project includes the design and construction of 11 aircraft maintenance hangars with 160m clear spans, as well as maintenance and ancillary buildings and workshops spanning 343,000m² of built-up area.

The SAEI project also includes provision of all electro-mechanical and special equipment required for a modern automated MRO facility and corresponding aprons, taxiways and airfield infrastructure works.

HLG’s share in the design build contract is worth SAR573m ($153m).

HLG CEO and managing director, Laurie Voyer, said that this was the company’s first major project in Saudi Arabia.

"We are able to leverage off the Leighton Group’s Australian and Asian experience in delivering airport infrastructure and apply this to a new market," Voyer, said.

The project is part of the airport’s SAR27bn ($7.2bn) expansion plan intended to enhance its capacity from the current 13 million to 80 million passengers per year by 2035.

According to HLG, the MRO facility, set to become one of the largest in the Middle East, will be capable of providing services to all types of modern aircraft, including the new A380 and B747 models.

Under the deal, SAEI also has an option to expand the facility by an additional 150,000m², which will include the construction of a further nine hangars.

The work on the project is expected to be completed in October 2014 following a 30 month design and construction period.

 

Image: After completion, the new MRO facility will be capable of providing services to all types of modern aircraft. Photo: HLG