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Irish firm bags $266m operations contract for Saudi Red Sea airport

By Pramod Kumar
Clothing, Apparel, Person TRSDC
The Irish firm will serve as the airport operator in 2023, supervising the design consultancy, management and operations of the airport.

The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) has appointed Dublin-based daa International as the operator of Red Sea International, which will be the region’s first carbon-neutral airport.

The developer of mega projects – Red Sea Project and Amaala – signed a SAR 1 billion ($266 million) deal with the Irish company for operations and general maintenance services, according to a company statement.

The Irish firm will serve as the airport operator from 2023, supervising the design consultancy, management, and operations, in line with the provisions of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization.

“As the region’s first-ever airport powered by 100 percent renewable energy, RSI will serve as an innovative blueprint for decarbonised urban destinations of the future,” said TRSDC CEO John Pagano.

RSI has been designed by international architecture firm Foster + Partners and is gearing up to welcome its first passengers in 2023.

The airport will have the capacity to serve an estimated one million domestic and international tourists per year by 2030.

The airport will have a runway for seaplanes and water aerodromes, regulated by GACA safety guidelines.

It will service hydrogen-powered seaplane variants, supplied by hydrogen-electric aviation firm ZeroAvia, electric vertical takeoff, landing and electric short takeoff and landing aircraft technology, the statement said.

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