Yemen’s Civil Aviation & Meteorology Authority (Cama) prequalified three companies for a contract to operate the country’s two largest airports, Sanaa International and Aden International.

The prequalified firms are Malaysian Airports Holdings, South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation and France’s Egis Group, according to a source at one of the prequalified companies.

Cama issued a tender for the provision of management services at the two airports in early 2009, with a closing date for applications of 2 May. The contract is due to last for seven years.

Two other companies, France’s Aeroports de Paris (ADP) and Turkey’s TAV had been expected to compete for the contracts, but did not submit prequalification documents by the deadline, according to the source.

Cama had been expected to make a decision about the contract award by the end of December 2009, but this has been delayed.

The winning group will operate the second terminal at Sanaa International airport, due to be completed later in 2010. Cama operates the existing terminal.

The group will also be required to improve the commercial operations of Aden International airport and oversee the expansion work, including construction of a planned new departures building (MEED 12:01:09).