SINGAPORE’S Changi Airport won a contract to manage Abu Dhabi airport, beating UK operator BAA and Austria's Flughafen Wien, the chairman of Abu Dhabi Airports Authority said.
The contract will cover the airport's core operations including running the terminal and the apron, said Khalifa Al Mazrouei, who heads the company that runs the airport in the UAE capital.
“Changi Airport will manage operations of Abu Dhabi airport initially for 18 months,” he said, adding the value of the deal would be announced later.
Abu Dhabi is spending $6.8 billion on expanding its airport after starting its own airline.
The airport will handle about 5.6 million passengers this year and capacity will be expanded to 20 million passengers a year in 2010.
The airport expansion includes a cargo facility capable of handling 500,000 tonnes a year.
Abu Dhabi Airports plans to invite companies to bid for contracts for catering and ground-handling during the next two years.