SINGAPORE : Changi Airports International (CAI), a unit of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, has won a S$65 million (US$42.8 million) contract from Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation.

The deal is CAI's largest management contract to date, in terms of size and length of service.

CAI beat nine other leading airport operators to clinch the deal.

Under the agreement, CAI will provide operations management services at the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) for six years.

A team of staff from CAI will be stationed there to assist in areas such as passenger and cargo terminal operations, staff training as well as commercial and airport network developments.

It is the first time a foreign airport operator will manage KFIA.

Currently, the airport has a passenger capacity of 11 million a year and it is looking to raise the number to 16 million. - CNA /ls