Egypt’s $100m expansion of Borg el-Arab airport in Alexandria will be completed in May, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Egypt’s Orascom Construction Industries won the construction contract for the airport, together with its joint venture partner Belgium’s Besix in 2005. The airport is managed by France’s Aeroports de Paris Ingenierie.

The deal involves building a passenger terminal and expanding the existing passenger terminal and cargo terminal. Borg el-Arab will be able to handle 1.2 million passengers a year once the expansion is complete. All air traffic will also be transferred to Borg el-Arab airport from the existing Alexandria International airport which will close to commercial aviation operations.

Cairo is currently carrying out about $1bn worth of airport projects in the country. A deal for the construction of a second terminal at Cairo International airport is scheduled to be awarded in the third quarter (MEED 15:2:10).