Work on Oman's $1.8-billion new Muscat International Airport is continuing on schedule for its opening next year, a report said.

The new terminal will be able to handle 12 million passengers per year, said the Times of Oman report.

Oman plans further expansions in three subsequent phases to boost the airport’s annual capacity to 24, 36, and 48 million passengers when the demand warrants.

The new airport will have 118 check-in counters; 82 immigration counters; 40 gates for both departing and arriving flights and 29 waiting lounges. Sixteen additional waiting lounges have been built for passengers being transported to aircraft by bus. There will also be duty-free areas, retail stores, restaurants and cafés, the report said.

The total terminal building area will be 580,000 sq m. Other airport buildings will cover 30,000 sq m.

There are to be 10 belts in the baggage claim area, with eight of them for international flights and two for domestic passengers.

A five-level parking area in the north of the airport will hold 1,100 vehicles, while another one will accommodate some 1,200 vehicles, the report said.

The new airport will have two parallel runways capable of serving the world's largest aircraft including A380s.

The new airport will also have a 90-room airside hotel. - TradeArabia News Service