going modernization of Jeddah's airport could well see the inclusion of a VIP hotel, a mall, a medical center, pilgrim-service offices and business centers. But this could take another four years to become reality. King Abdulaziz Airport's modernization project that started last year will reach its final completion phase in the year 2011, said Adnan Zuhairi, the project manager, at a press conference on Wednesday. By the end of the project, the airport would be capable enough to handle 80 million passengers a year. The renewed airport complex will occupy an area of 400,000 square meters, with 20,000 square meters to be allocated for commercial use. Businessmen who attended the conference gave their proposals to the representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority and IDBI, the French company in-charge of the project. They suggested the construction of a hotel for VIPs, businessmen and financiers coming from abroad and offices for Umra and Haj companies at the airport. Meetings and business deals can take place in such a hotel without the need of visas, Al-Watan Arabic daily reported. Zuhairi invited them to invest, saying the private sector and reputed national companies would be entitled to bid for various projects envisaged as part of the airport's modernization. __
