A government official said the expansion of Oman’s main airport is being delayed two years because runway excavations hit seawater.  The delay will cost the state up to $500 million (Dh 1.83 billion). He said “The Muscat extension will now be completed in 2014, not in 2012 as expected due to soft ground which contractors came across in some places.” 

This is the second time expansion plans at the seaside Muscat airport have been stalled.  The cyclone Gonu that hit Oman in 2007 forced a modification of the master plan.  Oman last year awarded a $1.17 billion contract for civil works at the Muscat airport to a joint venture, but has not yet awarded a construction contract for the terminal building at Muscat airport. The airport now handles about four million passengers a year and this will increase to 12 million after the extension is completed.