Queen Alia International Airport to launch USD750 million upgrade programme

Airport International Group (AIG), operator of Jordan's Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA), announced plans to launch a USD750 million upgrade programme for the airport, including development of a 86,000 sqm passenger terminal (TradeArabia News Service, 13-Oct-09). AIG CEO, Curtis Grad, stated Phase I will be completed by early 2012 with capacity to handle 12 million passengers p/a, while Phase II will expand capacity by an additional 12 million passengers p/a. Mr Grad added the airport is aiming to increase traffic passenger traffic from low cost carriers in the GCC, by increasing arrivals from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah.

Airport International Group: "There are already six low cost carriers - Air Arabia, Jazeera Airways, Bahrain Air, Sama Airlines, Nas Air and flydubai - that have a total of 80 arrivals and departures a week to Amman, Jordan. The LCC model is well understood, easily copied and globally transferable today," Curtis Grad, CEO. Source: TradeArabia News Service, 13-Oct-09.