Qatar has revealed plans to spend an additional US$2bn on its new international airport in Doha to accommodate expansion plans by its airlines
Akbar al Baker, member of the steering committee for the airport?s development and chief executive of Qatar Airways, said, ?The last phase construction of the airport is estimated to cost another US$2bn more than the initial estimate of US$15.5bn.?
The official added that the original cost of the airport, which was scheduled to be functional by December last year, was US$14.5bn but has now risen to US$15.5bn to cover an increase in passenger numbers.
The tendering process is underway for the new expansion, he said. The airport is being developed in three phases and will be expected to be completed by 2015.
Baker said that Qatar Airways, which has plans to fly to 170 destinations in the next three years, will see its fleet size exceed 120 aircraft this year.
Qatar?s government has been stressing on several infrastructure development projects that include upgrade of the country's aviation facilities. It has also allocated 40 per cent of its budget between now and 2016 to projects including US$5.5bn for a deepwater seaport, US$20bn for roads and US$1bn for a transport corridor in the capital, Doha.
