The northern city of Hail has recognized that its existing airport is quickly losing its ability to handle the dynamic growth of passengers and cargo, prompting the government to start a new airport project in 2009. The announcement of the new airport project in Hail was made by Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Sa'ad Bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of Hail region, during a meeting with officials from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) at Aja Palace Sunday night, SPA reported. The project comes in line with the instructions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the deputy governor said. GACA has already started reviewing different designs of the new airport which is expected to serve more than 1.5 million passengers annually. If expanded in future plans, the airport can accommodate up to 2.5 million passengers annually, said Hani Reda, Acting deputy direct of local airports at GACA. He added that work on the project would start once the funds have been secured from the Ministry of Finance, hopefully within a year. The new airport project encompasses approximately 16,000 sq.m of floor space including a 3-story main operation building and 13 boarding areas. In addition to executive lounges on the third floor, the building will host an array of restaurants, cafes, and shops. The spacious parking area will accommodate up to 1000 vehicles at a time. A mosque and a cargo building will be built along the parking area. The budget for the new airport was not announced. The airport project comes as part a development package for the area which started with the inception of the $8b Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Musaed Economic City during the King's visit to the region last year. The Economic City is expected to attract more businesses, visitors , and cargo. Furthermore, Hail's rich heritage together with its wild beauty and moderate climate make it a potential destination of choice for tourism. With over 260 historic and ancient sites, it is reportedly expected to attract over 700,000 visitors annually. Without a new airport, Hail's leap into the new era of development would soon be hobbled. __
