Regulatory News:
Pierre Graff, Chairman and CEO of Aéroports de Paris Group (Paris:ADP) (Pink Sheets:AEOPF) and his Royal Highness Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saoud Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Civil Aviation sign today in Jeddah a Design Services contract of around 140 mUSD for the development of King Abdulaziz International Airport. This contract follows the architecture competition organized by the GACA (General Authority for Civil Aviation) and won by ADPI.
This represents another success for ADPI at this airport since it won, in 2006, a contract to carry out studies and provide technical support for the upgrading of the three existing terminals (the Hajj, South and North Terminals), as well as studies to develop aeronautical infrastructures.
This contract covers the design of new facilities, which are to be completed in a fast track approach. They will enable the KAIA platform to have a powerful hub with, ultimately, the capacity to handle 80 million passengers per annum by 2035. The project, estimated to cost several billions Saudi Riyals, comprises:
- a new terminal of almost 550,000 m2 capable of handling 30 million passengers per annum
- 42 pier–served aircraft stands (including 2 dedicated to the A380) and 10 remote stands
- an intermodal transport centre (railway station, MRT to Jeddah city, bus station)
- a new control tower of about 130 metres in height
- new access roads
- new load centres and utilities networks
- several support facilities
- 360,000 m2 of car parks.
This represents a total surface area of approximately 900,000 m2.
ADPI is to undertake the entire design of these new facilities.
Beyond its technical and operational qualities, ADPI´s project was attractive to the Saudi authorities because of its architectural concept.
Symbolic design: The architectural design, now taken over by a team of ADPI´s architects led by Dominique Chavanne, employs the symbol of a crescent moon associated with Saudi culture. The materials chosen – mega structure made of steel, copper coloured aluminium roofing, glass, granite and marble- combine modernity with tradition.
Lofty ambitions for environmental performance
GACA´s ambition is that the KAIA airport becomes an emblem for sustainable growth and development in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
In order to ensure LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, the innovations proposed by ADPI aim at optimising the energy costs of the building, reducing water consumption and using recycled materials. The environmental quality of the project is present throughout the passenger´s circuit within the airport, its garden and green roof tops.
Photovoltaic panels integrated into the solar protection systems and exclusive use of recycled water for garden irrigation, as well as natural lighting for 75 % of the premises, are just some of the measures recommended.
The cladding of the facades in aluminium is particularly suited to the humid climate loaded with sea salt.
To date, no airport of this size has been awarded LEED certification. The project to develop KAIA will be an international benchmark in the air transport sector.
For Alain Le Pajolec, CEO of ADPI:
"This new success allows ADPI to consolidate its presence in the Middle East and to make Jeddah the foundation stone for development in a country that is currently experiencing a revival of its grand era of construction in the 1980s. ADPI teams of architects and engineers are demonstrating all their expertise to support Saudi authorities in developing the airport to create a powerful hub. They are also coordinating with other GACA consultants to develop the site as a whole, both airside and landside, to ultimately give rise to a veritable airport city."
ADPI, established in 2000, is a subsidiary of the Aéroports de Paris Group. It provides design, architecture and engineering services as well as project management support. Patrice Hardel is ADPI´s Chairman of the Board and Alain Le Pajolec is ADPI´s CEO.
Aéroports de Paris builds, develops and manages airports including Paris–Orly, Paris–Charles de Gaulle and Paris–Le Bourget. Aéroports de Paris is Europe´s second–largest airport services group in terms of airport revenues and the European leader for cargo and mail. Aéroports de Paris accommodates nearly 460 airlines, including the main companies in the air transport industry.
With an exceptional geographic location and a major trading area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of modernizing its terminal facilities and upgrading the quality of services, and also intends to develop its retail and real estate business. In 2007, Aéroports de Paris Group had revenues of ?2,292.4 million and handled 86.4 million passengers.
