Cairo Airport Company has extended the deadline for contractors to submit bids for the $400m renovation of terminal two at Cairo International airport to 20 January 2011.

The previous deadline was 20 December. Originally, the construction award was expected in the third quarter of 2010 (MEED 18:10:10).

The renovation plan for terminal two involves upgrading the existing terminal so it can handle up to 7.5 million passengers a year, more than double its current capacity of 3.5 million passengers a year. The project will also involve the construction of a new departure hall and airside pier, as well as the construction of larger gates to accommodate the Airbus A380 superjumbo.

Construction is expected to take about three years to complete, so the terminal is not likely to be open until 2014. The local Engineering Consultants Group and Netherlands-based Naco have completed the design of terminal two.

Cairo Airport Company prequalified six companies to bid on the deal in August. The prequalified companies are:

• 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)