TAV emerged as low bidder for the contract in mid-June, when it priced the contract at $347 million. The other bidders are: France's Bouygues, with Besixof Belgium and the local Orascom Construction Industries; Taisei Corporation of Japan; France's Vinci, with Athens-based Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCC); Cyprus-based Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P - Overseas); and Saudi Binladin Group, with the US' Turner International.

The Cairo expansion plan calls for construction of a third terminal with a built-up area of 164,000 square metres, capable of handling 11 million passengers a year. Construction is expected to start as early as late December, and the terminal is due to open in 2007. The local ECG Engineering Consultants Groupis the engineering design and construction supervision consultant on the project.

The project manager on Cairo terminal 3 is Beirut-based Dar al-Handasah (Shair & Partners).