Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (Gaca) has said Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International airport will proceed with its scheduled soft opening in May despite the termination last month of the 20-year operation and maintenance (O&M) contract with Changi Airports Saudi Arabia (Casa).

Casa, a joint venture of Singapore-based Changi Airports International and local firm Saudi Naval Support Company, lost the contract 10 months after it was awarded to them by Gaca.

MEED understands that the joint venture has already established the management team for the new airport, and was preparing for the operational readiness and airport transfer (Orat) programme when the contract was cancelled.

According to a local media report, Gaca intends to retender the contract although no specific details in terms of tender timeline and qualified bidders have been released.

King Abdulaziz International airport is Saudi Arabia’s largest airport in terms of passenger traffic; it handled 31.15 million passengers in 2016, some 3.5 per cent more than in 2015.

Gaca had previously said the new airport will be operational shortly before the hajj season commences this year.

The airport redevelopment began in 2010 when Gaca awarded local Saudi Binladin Group two contracts worth a combined $7.2bn for the overhaul of the existing terminal at the airport and the construction of a new one. The new terminal has a design capacity of 30 million passengers annually.