Bombardier wins Saudi contract


Bombardier Inc. has been awarded the contract to design, build, operate and maintain a monorail system for King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The contract, for a Bombardier INNOVIA APM 300 system, is worth $96 million.

Saudi Binladin Group is the contractor responsible for the design and construction of the KAIA Development Project, which will see existing passenger facilities expanded and an additional passenger terminal building constructed to cater to rising passenger numbers.

The monorail, due for completion in early 2014, will be designed to transport passengers between terminal areas at KAIA.

Bombardier's wholly-owned subsidiary in Saudi Arabia will act as a subcontractor to Saudi Binladin Group, and will design and supply all the electrical and mechanical elements needed for the 1.5 kilometer system, which will feature driverless technology.

The company will also supply project management, systems engineering and integration, testing and commissioning, in addition to operation and maintenance services for four years, with an option to extend to 2020.

Much of the technology will be supplied from Bombardier’s facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Commenting, Serge Van Themsche, VP for Europe, Middle East, Africa & Brazil, Systems division of Bombardier Transportation, said: “We are honoured to add the King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to our list of prestigious airports served by a Bombardier INNOVIA transit system. Our new generation INNOVIA APM 300 system will delight airport passengers with its sleek design and exceptional ride quality, and support the airport operator with its highly reliable service.”

He added: “Our second contract in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms our commitment to build local skill to help realize Saudi Arabia's ambitious urban transport aspirations.”

Headquartered in Canada, Bombardier had revenues for the year ending January 31 2011 of $17.7 billion.