SAINT CATHERINE – Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli on Thursday asserted the significance of upgrading Saint Catherine International Airport, in tandem with the underway “Great Transfiguration” development project.
The expansion project of the airport aims at catering to the expected increase in the aviation movement and prospective development of Saint Catherine city to turn it into a leading religious and tourist destination, the premier said.
This came as the premier and his accompanying delegation arrived to Saint Catherine city for a tour, earlier in the day, to inspect the underway renovation of St. Catherine International Airport.
Assistant Head of the Engineers Department at the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Ahmed Sorur briefed the premier on the status of the construction activities at the passenger and service buildings, noting that the passenger building can accommodate up to 600 passengers per hour.
Erected on area of 15,000 square meters, the terminal houses departure, arrival and VIP lounges, Sorur said, adding that a 32-meter-high air traffic control tower will be built at the airport.
The new runway will be 3,000 metres long and is set to include an expanded apron with space for eight aircraft, in order to raise the accommodation capacity of the airport to 11 aircraft, he added.