Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) could award the contract for the baggage handling system (BHS) package for Al-Maktoum International Airport within the next two months, according to sources familiar with the scheme.

The contract to build a tunnel for the baggage handling system could also be awarded shortly after.

DAEP indicated in February that the award of the baggage handling system contract was “imminent.”

The award of the BHS contract has been delayed despite the successful signing of a $3bn credit facility in in May that will be used for the expansion of Al-Maktoum International and the operational enhancements of Dubai International airport.

Construction of the BHS is expected to be completed in 2024, a year prior to the target completion date of the first phase of the airport expansion project.

The system will be serving 134 contact stands and additional active remote stands. It will have a capacity to handle 220,000 bags daily between arrivals, departures and transfers. Transfers are expected to account for 70 per cent of the airport traffic, a feature that requires a highly complex BHS.

Apart from the installation, testing and commissioning of the system, the scope of work involves a conceptual design of the entire phase of Al-Maktoum International to ensure system integrity and a detailed design for the West Terminal Building phase 1A Concourse 1 and one node of Concourse 2 with the related remote stands operation

DAEP awarded several contracts in 2016 for the airport expansion megaproject. They include:

• Construction of aprons adjacent to the passenger terminal building: National Wheel J&P; $163m
• Enabling works: Tristar (local)
• Infrastructure package: Lane (US) / National Contracting & Transportation Company (NCTC) (local); $125m