The Central Airport Authority inked a front-end engineering and design (FEED) contract for the Da Nang International Terminal with a three consultants Tuesday, reported a local correspondent.

Partners for the engineering service are the consortium of Louis Berger Group Inc (USA), Netherlands Airport Consultants BV (Netherlands) and the local construction consultant VNCC.

The US$75 million airport would be built on an area of 34,000 sq.m, said Hoang Thanh, General Director of the Central Airport Authority.

Getting under way in Dec 2006, the new airport will be equipped with international standard facilities capable of handling 4 million passengers per year.

With Hoi An World Heritage site only 30 minutes from Danang and the Royal City of Hue 2 hours away, the new airport facility should boost regional visits and development in the region. (Reported by Huu Tra – Translated by Thanh Tuan)