Kuwait’s Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently preparing the terms of reference (TOR) for the consultancy package for the central runway planned at Kuwait International airport.

According to a source with knowledge of the project, the tender for the consultancy package is expected to be released before the end of 2017, with an award potentially in the first quarter of next year.

The runway will link the existing east runway, which is undergoing an upgrade, with the under-construction west runway.

In March, DGCA awarded a joint venture of China’s Avic International Holding Corporation and the local Al-Dar (HOT) Engineering & Construction with the KWD149.8m ($492m) contract for the construction of a new code 4F west runway, the extension of the existing east runway, a new air traffic control tower, parallel taxiways, access roads and other related facilities.

Construction on the $4.3bn Terminal 2 and the $174m temporary passenger terminal at Kuwait International airport is underway.

Terminal 2 is expected to be completed in 2022 while the temporary passenger terminal is expected to be completed by early 2018.