Serco Middle East, an international services company, said it has been awarded a contract by Dammam Airports Company (Daco) for installation of cutting-edge fire and rescue services equipment at the upcoming airport in the Saudi city.

Besides the Serco deal, Daco also signed an agreement with Vanderlande, the global market leader for value-added logistic process automation at airports, at the ongoing 18th Airport Show in Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Under this agreement, the two entities will work on introducing a state-of-the-art baggage handling system at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam that will help make travel procedures smoother for airport personnel, passengers and airlines, it said.

As part of Daco’s agreement with Vanderlande, the global market leader for value-added logistic process automation at airports, the two entities will work on introducing a state-of-the-art baggage handling system at King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) that will help make travel procedures smoother for airport personnel, passengers and airlines, it said.

Daco said the agreement with Serco Middle East will help make KFIA the first Saudi airport to leverage an international service provider’s expertise in fire-fighting systems and also boost the airport’s safety standards in line with its existing firefighting protocols.

Daco CEO Turki Abdullah Al Jawini said: "Guided by our vision to transform airports and redefine the travel experience, our efforts in the last 10 months have focussed on expanding the airport’s operational efficiency, as it witnesses a steady growth in passenger traffic and an increased demand for commercial services."

"We are pleased to partner with global leaders like Vanderlande and Serco Middle East to execute our long-term plans for the airport, and transform it into a major hub for air transportation within the region and beyond," he added.

Serco Middle East CEO David Greer said: "As a globally recognised fire and rescue services provider, we are pleased to enter this agreement with Dammam Airports Company that has been mandated to oversee the operations of the KFIA."

"Passenger safety and security are among the most critical aspects of airport operations, and we are delighted to utilise our industry-leading expertise in providing cutting-edge fire and rescue solutions to enhance the airport’s security procedures," he added.

Vanderlande CEO Remo Brunschwiler said: "Our company is pleased to support Daco in its efforts to create a world-class airport experience and seamless travel experience for the airport’s growing passenger traffic."

"Our state-of-the-world baggage handling system will not only boost the facility’s operational efficiency, but also positively impact all aspects of the passenger journey," he added.-TradeArabia News Service