Lindner Depa Interiors (LDI) has refuted a statement made by Qatar Airways yesterday on a contract related to the New Doha International Airport (NDIA).

 

It has termed the Qatar Airways statement as a "false and misleading representation of the facts."

 

Qatar Airways, which is also the operator of the new $15.5 billion airport, earlier said LDI had undertaken to complete the construction of 19 airport lounges at NDIA by the summer of 2012 in a contract worth over $250 million, but failed to complete the project on time.

 

The airline said it is filing a $600 million legal claim against the contractor for a delay in opening a new international airport in Doha.

 

LDI said in its statement that the company is deeply disappointed by the allegations made by Qatar Airways and rebuts all claims.

 

It said LDI has never had a contract or relationship with Qatar Airways, nor has it received any legal claim from the airline.

 

The statement said LDI is currently in arbitration proceedings with the New Doha International Airport (NDIA), with whom it was contracted to work. 

 

"LDI was denied full access to the project site for the first nine months of the sixteen months project. This delay, combined with NDIA's refusal to pay acceleration costs recommended by its own management consultancy, meant LDI was unable to start all interior contracting work on site as planned. As a result, LDI was unable to meet its original contract completion date," the statement said.

 

LDI has been operating since 2007 as a joint-venture between German-based Lindner group and UAE-based Depa group completing many infrastructure projects including work at Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport and stations of both lines of the Dubai Metro. 

 

Lindner Group was founded in 1965 and has completed many high profile airport projects such as London Heathrow (Terminal 5); Hong Kong Airport; Singapore Changi Airport (Terminal 1); Shanghai Pudong Airport and Barcelona Airport (new Terminal 1), said the statement.

 

"LDI is seeking legal counsel as a result of the damage caused to its reputation based on the false and misleading information made in the Qatar Airways statement," said the company.

 

The airport, which was due to have opened in December 2012, is now expected to open in the second half of 2013.