Iraq is set to get a new international airport that will complement and support the existing Baghdad International Airport and initially handle two million passengers a year. The airport will be situated in Salahuddin province north of Baghdad with a population of just overone million residents.

The airport will be built by US firm Leedco Engineers at an estimated cost of US$190 million. Current plans see the airport construction phase lasting into 2011, with the site being put into service in early 2012.

Baghdad International Airport is the country’s largest, handling nearly seven million passengers annually. In a related development, the Iraqi Transport Ministry is set to invite international bids for the construction of another new airport to be built south of Baghdad.

French firm Aeroports de Paris has already been awarded, in late- 2009, a portion of the project – a multi-million dollar plan development contract.