Red Sea Development awards design contract for international airport

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has awarded the design contract for the destination’s international airport to Fosters + Partners, it said in a statement.

“Awarding the contract for the design of our airport is an important milestone and the first of the underlying infrastructure projects of the destination” John Pagano, Chief Executive Officer at TRSDC, said.

“We look forward to collaborating with Fosters + Partners and their engineering sub-consultant, WSP Global, to develop an innovative design that will enhance the visitor experience, meet our sustainability goals and enable us to deliver an airport for the future,” Pagano said.

The airport, due for completion in 2022, will serve an estimated one million tourists per year with a schedule of domestic and international flights, and a peak of 900 passengers per hour.

In line with the company’s sustainability goals, the airport will have an eco-friendly and sustainable design. Its architecture will be informed by the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and represent the vision of The Red Sea project.

“Smart technology will play a vital role in the development of the airport and it was key for us to work with a company who could assemble a team with the skills to ensure the airport would be smart by design,” Ian Williamson, Chief Project Delivery Officer at TRSDC, said.

The Red Sea Project development is planned to welcome its first guests by the end of 2022. In addition to the dedicated airport, the first phase of the development will include up to 14 hotels offering 3,000 hotel rooms across five islands and two inland sites, as well as commercial, retail and leisure facilities and other infrastructure.

Upon completion in 2030, the destination will deliver up to 8,000 hotel rooms across 22 islands and six inland sites.