A joint contract for a new Qingdao airport in the Shandong Province of China has been awarded to UK-based engineering, planning, project management and consulting services firm Atkins, and China Southwest Architectural Design and Research Institute (CSWADI).
Qingdao airport is one of the largest of five airports approved by the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC).
NDRC has earmarked a total amount of RMB150bn for the development of the five airports.
The RMB35bn ($5.8bn) Qingdao airport development project encompasses all design aspects including master planning, airfield design, transport planning, landscaping and water engineering.
Qingdao airport is expected to serve as a main regional hub and enhance the aviation capacity for both passengers and cargos, upon completion.
Once completed in 2017, it is said have the ability to process 38 million passengers per year in 2025 and 60 million passengers per year in 2045.
Atkins CEO for Asia Pacific Chris Birdsong said: “Our partnership with CSWADI, one of the leading design institutes in China and the largest in western China, will allow us to unlock opportunities to deliver our multidisciplinary, high end engineering services in China.”
CSWADI deputy dean Yang Guo said: “Both parties bring their own skills and strong design capabilities. It’s the combination of local knowledge and international experience that creates the most powerful synergy.”