Page 17 - 2019 Mid Year Newsletter
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The Middle East has historically been Hill’s strongest air travel. “Airports are now operating at or
region for growth, and, unsurprisingly, Middle near peak capacity 24-7, 365 days a year,” says
East aviation projects represent some of the firm’s Mr. Abbas. “Aviation facilities need to be able
largest and most involved assignments. In the past to support this kind of pace. And projects,
five years alone, Hill has helped to manage more understandably, have to be executed in a way
than $40 billion in aviation projects throughout that does not disrupt these existing operations
the region, including such mega-projects as the and reflects this reality.”
Abu Dhabi Airport Midfield Terminal, Bahrain Mr. Abbas explains that at Muscat, Hill mobilized
International Airport Modernization Program, a staff of some 250 professionals within the
and Muscat International and Salalah Airports project’s first three months. This ability to
Development Projects in Oman, among others. deliver a large, complete, and talented team
Although drops in oil prices and currency right away helped drive the project’s success:
fluctuations have resulted in relatively flat growth the Muscat and Salalah Airports in Oman
for Middle East air carriers recently, inbound tourism have won several awards and drawn industry
and stopovers continue to drive work in both acclaim, most recently winning MEED’s “Mega-
landside and airside facilities for Gulf Cooperation Project of the Year” award for 2019.
Council (GCC) regional hubs. In fact, according In Abu Dhabi, the new Midfield Terminal
to Arabian Business, within the next 20 years the Complex alone will accommodate some 20
Middle East could see an annual rate of growth of million annual passengers. Comprising the
close to 4.4%. This translates into a total market size 700,000 SM Midfield Terminal and related
of more than 500 million GCC regional passengers facilities, the project features duty-free
by 2040. retail shops, high-end commercial offerings,
Hill’s Project Director for the Muscat International international restaurants and cafes, airline
Airport Development Tarek Abbas, PMP, LEED AP hospitality lounges, a transit hotel, and a
(BD+C), explains that a major driver in the GCC’s heritage and culture museum. Operational
aviation growth is due to the changing nature of features include piers that can accommodate
up to 65 aircraft, including the Airbus A-380,
check-ins capable of handling around 8,500
passengers per hour, and a baggage system
designed to process over 19,000 bags per hour
with more than 22 km of conveying lines.
Hill Project Director John McKenna says of the
Midfield Terminal project, “GCC passengers
expect a comfortable and convenient airport
experience. Our aviation clients in the
Mideast, like the Abu Dhabi Airports Company,
understand that failing to consider impacts
to the passenger experience when building
Hill’s services for the Bahrain APM include preparing a airports can lead to dissatisfied fliers, as well as
project management plan, establishing a general budget, frustrated concessionaires and airlines. At Abu
developing a preliminary master schedule, assisting with Dhabi, the entire team, from the client to each
tender and award, design management, and construction sub, had a passenger and carrier satisfaction
management.
Hill International Newsletter 2019 | Page 14
