JEDDAH: The website of King Abdul Aziz International Airport was flooded with visitors after reports that the massive revamp of the facility will create 120,000 jobs when it opens in 2014. The airport is expected to be one of the most important airports in the Middle East and the world. An estimated 10,000 people visited the website, half of them from Saudi Arabia. Reports from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and economists show the project will achieve significant investment results for the city and region. Economists concluded, based on standard airport operations, that 4,000 jobs will be created for every four million passengers. According to the strategic plan the first stage will be completed in 2012 with an airport capacity of 30 million passengers a year, which will be increased to 43 million in the second stage and 80 million in the third. The general plan for the airport involves a new extension to Prince Majed Road which will make it the main road to the airport instead of Madina Road. Employees will be able to reach it from the highway via a new extension. Several commercial activities and investment opportunities will be provided through the project. It will involve banks, duty free shops, restaurants, coffee shops and recreation areas, in addition to hotels, shops and offices outside. The total area of the airport's terminals is about 670,000 square meters with 200 counters. It will have the most modern luggage belt more than 60 kilometers long, with the most advanced security systems. Other aspects of the project include 96 jet bridges, 46 departure gates, four first-class and business-class terminals, an aircraft area with the capacity of 94 airplanes and a hotel for transit passengers. A transport center will contain a station for the Haramain Train, an internal train, duty-free market and shops.
