Baghdad: The Council of Ministers has given the green light to the rehabilitation, development, and operation of Baghdad International Airport through a collaboration with a prominent international operator.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Council emphasized the urgent need to enhance services at the airport to align with global aviation safety and security standards. The decline in international airline presence was also a driving factor behind the decision. The project aims to elevate the airport’s status, reflecting favorably on Iraq’s reputation.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) had been previously engaged as a consultant to assist the government in attracting specialized international companies. The consultant’s role included preparing an investment brochure for the airport project. A total of 14 coalitions from various countries submitted bids to take on the airport’s rehabilitation and operation. However, four coalitions were excluded due to lack of experience and financial capacity.
In May, the Ministry of Transport’s Airports Department launched a tender for the ten qualified coalitions. A committee, led by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Planning and involving key stakeholders from the Ministry of Transport, was formed to review the Requests for Proposals (RFPs) with the consultant. Some coalitions withdrew, and the number was reduced to three after some mergers. These remaining coalitions were CAAP Consortium, ASYAD Consortium, and ERG International UK Consortium.
After evaluating the technical bids, the ERG International consortium was removed from consideration for not fulfilling all technical criteria. Financial bids from the CAAP and ASYAD consortiums were received on October 19, 2025, by the Ministry of Transport’s Contracts and Licensing Department. Following analysis, the CAAP consortium was chosen due to its superior financial proposal, offering a 43.05% share of the airport’s total annual revenue to the central treasury, surpassing the ASYAD consortium’s offer of 38.05%.