The Cairo Airport Company has invited contractors to submit prequalification documents by 7 February for the renovation and development of Terminal Two at Cairo International Airport.

The Cairo Airport Company says it expects to issue invitations to bid in May next year.

Work on the $400m project involves the renovation of the existing terminal building and also the construction of new buildings including a new departure hall and an airside pier.

Plans also include the construction of larger gates to accommodate the Airbus A380 aircraft.

The construction work is expected to take about three years to complete and is scheduled to finish in 2013.

The renovated terminal will also be able to handle 7.5 million passengers each year, more than doubling its current capacity of three million passengers each year.

The Egyptian government has applied for a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, part of the World Bank Group, to help cover the cost of the project.

In 2008, Turkey TAV completed construction work of Terminal Three at Cairo International airport (MEED 10:12:04).

That estimated $350m project involved the construction of 23 gates, two to accommodate the Airbus A380 aircraft, landside works including an access road, bridges and flyovers. The terminal has a capacity to handle 11 million passengers annually.