By Abdulaziz Al-Mejren
KUWAIT, July 2 (KUNA) -- Kuwait International Airport's new terminal (T4) is set to open its doors on Wednesday to serve the national carrier Kuwait Airways, giving impetus to a plan that aims to transform Kuwait into a financial and commercial hub.
The opening of the sprawling facility, which can accommodate 4.5 million passengers and stretches over 55,000 square meters, will also contribute to easing passenger congestion.
The terminal contains 14 gates and a parking lot to ease the burden on other operating terminals and ensure passenger convenience until a second terminal; (T2) is up and running in 2022.
With the opening of T4, passenger traffic is expected to spike by 10 percent, which represents an epoch of development for the local aviation sector.
Meanwhile, the project provides job opportunities for engineers and Kuwaiti youth, which will bring in additional revenue worth USD 60 million.
The KD-52.89-million (USD 173.2 million) worth project got off the ground in 2016 in a joint venture involving Turkish construction firm Genghis and First Kuwaiti General Trading and Contracting Company (FKTC).
According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation, a six-percent increase in passenger capacity was recorded last year, with 1,109,142 people traveling through Kuwait's airport. (end) aam.ht.gaa