Etihad Airways has invited firms to express interest in the design and build of a new cargo terminal within the east midfield development of Abu Dhabi International airport by 15 February.

The company has conducted studies and has confirmed the terminal will have over a 400,000 square metre floor area and operations are set to commence by 2017.

The new terminal will accommodate the growth of its operations due to future expansion plans and will enable Etihad Airways Cargo to handle 2.5 million tonnes by 2025.

Etihad Airways is currently in the process of completing the design scope for the project brief.

Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) is also expanding the emirate’s main passenger airport to increase its capacity from 12 million to 32 million passengers a year, as part of the government’s Plan Abu Dhabi 2030.

The expansion project involves several elements, of which the biggest is the Midfield Terminal Complex, which is being built between the two existing runways at the airport.

In December 2014, MEED reported that Abu Dhabi International airport re-opened the newly renovated southern runway.

The $99m Southern Airfield runway rehabilitation was awarded to a consortium led by US-based Lane Mideast Contracting and including local companies Drake & Scull International and the National Contracting & Transport Company in April 2013.