Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects (DAEP) is reviewing the scope of  the baggage handling system (BHS) and undertaking further technical clarifications  with bidders before it awards the contract, which is a crucial element of the $33bn expansion of Al-Maktoum International airport, Dubai’s second airport.

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

The award for the BHS package, along with two other packages for the tunnel and automated people mover (APM), has been delayed despite the successful signing in May of a $3bn credit facility  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 capacity to handle 220,000 bags daily between arrivals, departures and transfers.

MEED understands 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.

Lebanon's Dar al-Handasah is the project management consultant for the airport expansion.

The existing passenger terminal at Al-Maktoum International is currently being expanded. The expansion, which will be completed next year, will take the terminal's annual capacity from the current 5 million passengers to 26 million.