A joint venture of the local Guris with the UK's Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners has emerged as favourite to win a contract valued at about $13.5 million to build a maintenance hangar at Istanbul's Ataturk international airport. The client is national carrier Turk Hava Yollari (THY - Turkish Airlines). Bids were opened recently (MEED 14:1:94).

Contractors say the Guris/Gibb team has started negotiations with THY, but there has been no final decision. The venture was the lowest of 11 bidders.

The contract calls for the construction of a hangar with a total floor area of about 1,850 square metres, suitable for Airbus A340 aircraft. It also includes the construction of an apron and other civil engineering works.