Singapore firm signs operations management deal with Saudi Airport

The overseas investment arm of Singapore's airport operator said Tuesday it has signed a contract to provide operations management services to Saudi Arabia's King Fahd International Airport (KFIA).

Changi Airports International (CAI) said in a statement the six-year contract is worth 65 million Singapore dollars (42.56 million US).

CAI, the overseas investment arm of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore which manages Changi Airport, said the Saudi contract marks a "strategic strengthening" of its presence in the Middle East.

"It is a landmark deal for CAI," said the firm's chief executive Wong Woon Liong.

"This is the first time a foreign airport operator has been tasked to manage KFIA in line with the Saudi Arabian government's decision to give the state-owned aviation sector greater autonomy."

CAI, which invests in and manages airports around the world, said the deal with Saudi Arabia is its biggest ever airport management contract.

Under the deal, a team of Changi personnel will be stationed at Dammam, Saudi Arabia, to assist the airport in areas like passenger and cargo operations, commercial and airport network development and staff training, the statement said.

The Saudi airport has a capacity to handle 11 million passengers a year, which can be expanded to 16 million.

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