In the next few days, Prince Fahd Bin Abdullah, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Civil Aviation Affairs, plans to inspect work done at the new King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA). Work on the first phase to expand and improve the airport began in January, after Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone. The first phase of project, which will increase the airport's annual capacity to 30 million passengers, includes a 670,000-square-meter complex for passenger terminals; there will be two terminals for domestic flights and two for international flights. There will also be 200 counters, a passenger-luggage system with the latest security measures, 96 bridges for passengers to board planes and 46 departure gates divided among 29 for international flights and 17 for domestic flights; eight of the gates will be used for either type of flight. The first phase of the project also includes four terminals for first- and business-class travelers, a transport center with an Al-Haramain Train station and a 133-meter control tower, which will be the world's tallest. Other facets include a duty-free shop, shopping areas, a luxurious 56-room hotel, utilities and support services. __
