A contract for the $815-million expansion of Bahrain International Airport is expected to be awarded by December for completion by the first quarter of 2019, it has emerged.

The project will include seven major components such as a new passenger terminal, 24 air bridges, arrival and departure lounges and airport aprons.

It is among a package of major development projects totalling $2.2 billion which are being funded through the government and the $10-billion Gulf Development Fund, which was pledged to Bahrain by its neighbours in 2011. The expansion will increase capacity at the airport to 17 million passengers a year, up from four million at present.