OMAN has relaunched tenders for passenger terminal packages linked to the development of greenfield airport projects at Sohar and Ras Al Hadd following a major design review, according to a report.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications, which is overseeing the multi-billion-dollar modernisation of the country’s airports and aviation sector, undertook the reappraisal of the terminal building packages covering three regional airports, including one under construction in Duqm, the Oman Daily Observer reported.

The review led to an overhaul of the design of the terminal buildings at the three airports.

The structures were scaled down to improve their overall functionality and efficiency without reducing passenger throughput capacities, pegged at 1.5 million passengers per annum, it said.

Significant cost reduction will be achieved in the construction, maintenance and operation of the terminals, by revisiting the technical and design features of the passenger buildings, the ministry was quoted as saying in the report.

Additionally, the revamped design will allow for horizontal expansions to be undertaken in the future and ample space will be opened up for investment in tourism and aviation-related services, it said.

The ministry has adopted a uniform layout for all three domestic airports, covering an area of 5,000 sq m, deemed large enough to house restaurants, retail outlets and amenities for passengers, the report added.