Cairo Airports Company has extended the deadline to 22 March for companies to submit bids for the $400m renovation of terminal two at Cairo International airport.

This is the fourth time that the bid deadline has been extended. The previous deadlines were 7 March, 7 February, 20 January and 20 December.

The most recent extension to 7 March was given due to the political instability in Cairo at the time (MEED 7:2:11).

The companies that have prequalified for the tender include:

• Limak Investment (Turkey)                              
• Enka (Turkey)                                          
• TAV Airports Holding (Turkey), Consolidated Contractors Company (Athens-based), Hassan Allam Sons (local)
• OHL Concesiones (Spain)
• Saudi Binladin Group (Saudi Arabia)
• Orascom Construction Industries (local)/Besix (Belgium)

The renovation of terminal two involves upgrading the existing passenger terminal so that it can handle up to 7.5 million passengers a year. This will more than double its current capacity, which is 3.5 million passengers annually. The project will also involve the construction of a new departure hall and airside pier, as well as the construction of larger gates that will be able to accommodate the Airbus A380 aircraft. Construction of the terminal is scheduled to take about three years to complete. The delays mean the terminal is not likely to be finished until 2014 at the earliest.