France’s Thales is the frontrunner for the package to supply the full IT and security systems for Muscat and Salalah International airports.

Oman’s Transport & Communications Ministry is expected to start technical negotiations in the next two weeks with commercial negotiations to follow.

In November 2009, Thales was the low bidder for the package with a bid of OR124m ($322m). The company also bid OR138m to carry out the same contract with a wider scope (MEED 6:11:09). Germany’s Siemens bid OR127m and UK-based Ultra Electronics bid OR278m.

The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for work on Muscat and Salalah international airports in Oman are expected to be awarded in September. The contracts involve the construction of the main passenger terminals at both airports.

Contracts were originally expected to be awarded in July.

Under the Muscat contract, the winner will build an airport terminal with a floor area of 290,000 square metres between the airport’s existing runway and a proposed second runway. A light railway will link the new terminal to Muscat International Airport’s existing terminal.

The low bidder for the contract to build the Muscat airport terminal is Cyprus-based Joannou & Paraskevaides (J&P), with a bid of OR746m.

Work at Salalah airport involves the construction of a 55,000 square-metre terminal. The low bidder for the contract to build a new terminal at Salalah International airport is a joint venture of Turkey’s Alsim Alarko and India’s Nagarjuna Construction Company with a bid of OR273m.