U.K. Company Building Iraq Airport to Fly Millions of Pilgrims
- Copperchase won contract for first phase of Karbala airport
- Facility to handle up to 2.5 million passengers a year: Salih
This article is for subscribers only.
Copperchase Ltd., a U.K.-based contractor, began the first phase of construction of an airport in central Iraq that will help ease travel for millions of religious pilgrims who visit the city of Karbala each year.
The company is building a runway, terminal, control tower and other facilities at a cost of between $250 million and $500 million, Nahidh Mohammed Salih, chairman of its Iraqi business, said Tuesday in a phone interview. Copperchase, based in Poole, U.K., won the contract last week, and the first phase of work will be completed in 18 to 24 months, he said.