OMAN BEAT AFGHANISTAN
The basic Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) trial was conducted at the new Muscat International Airport for the third consecutive week, said the Oman Airport Management Company on Wednesday.
While the OAMC has not specified the nature of these trials, according to experts, ORAT is conducted to ensure the operational readiness of a new airport project.
Recently, OAMC had invited bids for the supply of passenger trolleys for the new airport.
OAMC has an agreement with Munich Airport for ‘seventh consultancy package of operational readiness and transfer’ to new Muscat airport.
As per details available on the website of Flughafen München GmbH (FMG), the operating company of Munich Airport, ORAT focuses on both the construction process and completion stages of a project.
It provides the know-how and professional expertise for executing a successful and on-schedule start of operations - operational readiness – and airport transfer.
It was reported in July this year that only three per cent of the construction of the new passenger terminal at the international airport needs to be completed and the authorities are awaiting final approvals to start operations.
The new airport will have a capacity to handle 20 million passengers a year in the initial stages, which will gradually be increased to 48 million.
The terminal has a total area of 580,000 sqm with 118 check-in counters for airlines and 82 desks for immigration by the Royal Oman Police (ROP).
The airport will have a four-star hotel with 90 rooms.
A report issued by the Airports Council International (ACI), based in Montreal, Canada, confirmed passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport grew by 17.5 per cent in June 2017 compared with the same period last year.