Hill International selected as key engineering partner on new $585mn Crete airport

Hill International, the US multinational construction consultant and risk management firm, has been awarded a contract to become the ‘Independent Engineer’ for the New International Airport of Heraklion project on the Island of Crete.

The new airport, costing $585mn to build, will break ground in Q4 of this year and be ready in 2023.

The contract for the design, construction, financing, operation, and exploitation of the airport project and the construction/financing of the associated road connections was given to Ariadne Airport Group in May 2017.

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The project comprises of a 72,000 sqm terminal building and 3.2km runway, and will replace the existing Heraklion Airport once operational.

When fully up and running, it will serve more than 9mn passengers a year, making it the second-busiest Greek airport behind Athens International.

Emmanouil Sigalas, Hill’s VP and Managing Director, Southern Europe, said: “The Kasteli Airport Project is an infrastructure project of particular significance for Crete and all of Greece.

“The airport will become a key hub for transportation and tourism, providing several benefits to the regional economy, not least by jobs creation. We are honored by this appointment and look forward to supporting the Hellenic Republic and the Investors for its delivery.”

Ariadne Airport Group comprises Greek corporation TERNA S.A. and GMR Airports Ltd, an India-based company. The project will be developed under a concession agreement for a period of 35 years, with the Hellenic Republic maintaining a 45.9% stake in this concession.