NEOM AWARDS INFRASTRUCTURE CONTRACT FOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

AECOM’s scope of works will include project management for master planning, design and construction services, through to testing, commissioning, operational readiness, activation and transition.

Lara Poloni, AECOM’s President, commented: “ We are very pleased to be part of this innovative project, which is set to transform travel between NEOM and the world. Our track record delivering large-scale infrastructure projects in the region, as well as our mobilized global aviation resources and project management experts will help ensure the successful delivery of NEOM International Airport.”

“This contract is a testament to our leadership position in the region and to our continuous commitment to NEOM and the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” added Hamed Zaghw, Chief Executive at AECOM Middle East and Africa.

Improving Access

In the meantime, NEOM intends to improve direct access to the future metropolis as part of a larger strategy to support the continued development of the gigaproject, which is being created by local, regional, and worldwide enterprises. Following the conclusion of the first phase of development work and registration by the International Air Transport Association, Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation opened NEOM Bay Airport in 2019.

In March, flyDubai became the first UAE-based airline to fly to the airport, with the budget carrier operating the Dubai to NEOM flights twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays.

Saudia, the Kingdom's flag carrier, partnered with NEOM in May 2022 to begin weekly services to overseas destinations from the city, marking the airport's commercial launch. In June 2022, Saudia began flying direct flights to certain regional and international destinations, including Dubai International Airport, with intentions to expand to London. Aircraft flying to selected destinations will sport a NEOM-Saudia livery, promoting the brand to the rest of the world. The Kingdom has recently launched Riyadh Air too, a premium airline that it is anticipated will also fly to NEOM.

Building An Airline And Airport From Scratch

NEOM is going to have its very own airline and airport system, with the objective being to overhaul current travel processes. According to its CEO, Klaus Goersch, NEOM Airlines plans to begin operations as early as the end of next year, initially with current aircraft. However, Goersch hints that the carrier will transition to ‘new innovative aircraft’ - maybe with electric or other types of propulsion - beginning in 2026, with ‘next-generation interiors’ and cutting-edge in-flight entertainment.

“We are already in discussions with interior and seat manufacturers,” Goersch says, going on to explain that the company will focus on enabling tourism and commercial travel to NEOM, firstly from the NEOM Bay Airport, before taking advantage of the new international airport. “Due to the strategic geographical location and the level of economic activity here, we expect that we will have a global aviation hub on our hands as time goes on,” he said. Goersch went on to say that commercial air travel “leaves a lot to be desired”, and that the NEOM project provides the opportunity to build an airline and airport “from scratch”, with the freedom to “personalize the customer experience”, capitalizing on biometrics, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technology. “This legacy-free approach is how we are working at NEOM. We have no outdated infrastructure or business models to protect, meaning we can provide a personalized service,” he concludes.