 |
Specially designed: To cope with the monoflow pilgrim traffic, extra check-in desks have been installed in front of the baggage carousels in the Departures area |
SAUDI ARABIA. French airport operator Aéroports de Paris has announced that the first phase of the renovated Hajj Terminal at Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport has come into service.
Aéroports de Paris Management has been granted responsibility for operations management of the terminal – the first time a private consortium has been given such a responsibility in Saudi Arabia.
During the main pilgrimage month (Hajj) but also all year long for the Umra (small pilgrimage), the Hajj Terminal will handle more than 4 million passengers. Facilities and operations are designed specially for pilgrim traffic.
Under the contract Aéroports de Paris Management is responsible for operations management and infrastructure, including orientation and flow management, procedures handbooks, coordination with all the partners and training of local staff. There are three expatriates on-site.
ADPI, the engineering and architecture subsidiary of Aéroports de Paris, is carrying out studies and providing technical support throughout the extension and renovation phases of the Hajj Terminal.
About the Hajj Terminal
During the big pilgrimage period, the traffic is monoflow. During one month, there are arrivals only (from 11 November to 14 December) and the following month, departures only (from 23 December 2007 to 24 January 2008).
 |
Colour-coded: This picture shows the green area of the spacious Plaza |
Airport resources are adapted to the busy departures period. For example, extra check-in desks have been installed in front of the baggage carousels in Departures.
The first phase of the renovation dealt with the reconstruction of 32,000sq m of a terminal and the renovation of part of the Plaza (64,000sq m).
The Plaza, a huge waiting area for pilgrims, has been redesigned with retail, rest and pray areas able to accommodate 400 people each.
ADP said the terminal offers passengers a “luminous, modern and comfortable space while ensuring the best security checks”.
The terminal is characterised by its colour code used as signage aids and space differentiation. Signage has been designed specially for international passengers who are mostly occasional travellers.
After this first phase of works, which lasted eight months, the Hajj Terminal will be entirely renovated for the 2008 pilgrimage. Its total surface area will cover 94,000sq m.
In total, it will include a central check-in area of 64 desks which can be increased to 168 during the Hajj period and ten aircraft stands for jumbo jets. The Plaza will cover a total surface area of 160,000sq m.
About Aéroports de Paris Group
Aéroports de Paris builds, develops and manages airports including Paris Orly, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Paris Le Bourget. It is ranked the second European airport group in terms of airport turnover and accommodates nearly 460 airlines. The group’s strategy is to modernise its terminal facilities and to upgrade its quality of service while developing its retail and real estate business. In 2006 the group had a turnover of €2,076.8 million and a net profit of €152.1 million. Aéroports de Paris handled 82.5 million passengers in 2006.
Aéroports de Paris Management, established in 1990, is a subsidiary of the Aéroports de Paris Group, dedicated to airport management and investments in airport management companies. Jean-Marie Chevallier is President and Jacques Follain holds the position of General Manager. ADPI, established in 2000, is a subsidiary of Aéroports de Paris Group. It offers design, architecture and engineering services as well as project management. Marc Noyelle is ADPI’s President and Alain Le Pajolec is General Manager.
MORE STORIES ON AEROPORTS DE PARIS GROUP
Aéroports de Paris posts +5.3% rise in November passenger traffic – 18/12/07
