Every cloud has a green lining

Clouds of builders’ dust billow across the scrub and cranes reach out to the azure blue skies. Beneath both, the new hub for the whole Levant area is taking shape.

The work is on the $750 million development at Queen Alia International Airport – Amman’s international airport – just 32km outside the Jordanian capital.

The airport is operated on a 25-year contract by Airport International Group (AIG), a Jordanian company formed by a consortium of international investors in 2007, with a responsibility for the expansion, rehabilitation and operation of the airport.

Work is progressing well. “The new terminals are more than 50 per cent complete and the project as a whole is almost two-thirds finished,” said outgoing chief executive Curtis Grad.

Grad has been involved in the project since joining AIG more than two years ago. He is sad to be leaving before the new airport is complete. “It is a great project,” he said.

He departs this month to head the Victoria Harbour Authority in his native Vancouver, Canada but does so with confidence that the QAIA project is in good shape to be ready in time to meet the growing and dramatic increase in traffic figures.

For the first time in QAIA’s history, passenger traffic in 2010 reached 5,430,000 passengers, translating to a remarkable 13.7 per cent increase compared to 4,770,000 in 2009.
Aircraft movements (ACMs) for 2010 also witnessed strong growth, closing the year at 62,900 – an 8.8 per cent increase compared to 57,800 ACMs in 2009. As for cargo, 2010 registered 90,200 tonnes, an 11.8 per cent rise over 2009.

Grad said: “As global market demand continues to recover, we are extremely pleased with our 2010 traffic results. QAIA now ranks as one of the fastest growing airports in the region in terms of passengers volumes, as well as flight activity.

“Since assuming operations of QAIA in late 2007, AIG has been extremely keen on developing new routes, services and frequencies, and our efforts have very well been rewarded.”
QAIA has welcomed a multitude of new carriers, routes and additional flight frequencies over the last three years, from a broad range of scheduled air carriers. There have been new services by Royal Jordanian, Delta, Air Arabia, Austrian, Alitalia, Vueling, FlyDubai, airBaltic, Iberia and Tarom Romanian in addition to new charter services by Air Mediterranee, MINT Airways, XL Airways and many others.
Since 2007, QAIA passenger traffic has risen from 3.8m to 5.4m annually, while total flight frequencies have increased from around 400/week to well in excess of 650/week in the summer of 2010, and the number of carriers has grown from 28 to more than 40 in the same period, with destinations expanding from 58 to 65.
The latest airline to sign up is easyjet, the UK’s largest and Europe’s fourth largest airline, which announced it will be flying to Jordan with a return trip starting from as little as £106 (including taxes).

The new airport is also a triumph for the growing ‘green’ aspirations of the Jordanians with architects Foster + Partners including a whole host of sustainable features. Inspired by palm trees, the roof will be made up of photovoltaic canopies that shield it from the sun while generating renewable energy and allowing for natural ventilation.

With many open-air gardens and naturally ventilated courtyards, air can easily circulate underneath the canopies to cool the interiors. Light will pour through the spaces in between the canopies and pools of water will reflect incoming light on to the ceiling while providing a comfortable microclimate.

The roof canopy will act as thermal storage to both heat and cool the building and it will also collect rainwater and nighttime condensation. Lastly, a bank of photovoltaic panels will be mounted on the roof to generate electricity.

The first stage of the terminal is slated for opening in just about a year’s time and will feature a more spacious duty free area, vastly improved food and beverage services, increased business and VIP lounges, as well as larger office and storage space.

The current landscape at the airport is rapidly transforming with various construction and rehabilitation works already completed.

Meanwhile, AIG is also investing into maintaining and improving the airport’s existing terminals, including the renovation of public areas and the implementation of new technologies to improve customer service and operational efficiencies. These include new heating and air conditioning systems and an upgrade to the baggage handling system.

The expansion will eventually allow the airport to handle about nine million passengers a year.