Bids for a small-scale extension of Athens International Airport

Bids are officially “on” for the so-called “small-scale extension” of Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. This brings us a step closer to the announcement of the “large-scale extension” that is being planned as a result of the explosive increase in passenger traffic at the airport over the recent years and which, making the Airport to reach the maximum of its capacity in about 2 years’ time.

However it is noteworthy that even the “small-scale extension” of “El. Venizelos” is a historic moment for the Airport, as it will be the first major construction project since the signing of the concession contract, back in 1995.

The first extension has an estimated cost (not a specified budget) of 25mln euros (amount excl. VAT). The auction will take place on April 18 and according to the notice, the construction contract will have been signed until June 11, as the project has to follow a strict completion schedule and be delivered on May 31, 2019, while its liability period ends on May 31, 2022.

Contracts include the extension of the Central Terminal to the Southwest, which includes new premises of 14,950 sq.m. The schedule is tight and, due to the ever-increasing passenger traffic, that reached 21.7mln passengers in 2017, and the enforcement of the new EU security regulations according to which cross-checks and identity card checks will be carried out with the use of a data base to all European citizens traveling to/from non-Schengen countries.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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