A two-fold increase in the number of passengers frequenting Erbil International Airport (EIA) over the last two years has accelerated the master plan for further construction at the site.

In 2012 the airport hosted 947,600 passengers, more than double the 435,500 figure for 2010, and a 53% increase on 2011 that outstripped EIA’s 608,400 passenger estimate by 56%, and put it four years ahead of its master plan.

Andrew Jones, an advisor on commercial development advisor at EIA, said: “To fulfill the airport master plan a good deal of construction will be required. We will be looking to take on board a hotel partner in the coming year to develop a hotel complex at the airport."

“On the terminal side, it will come down to either expanding or significantly re-configuring the current terminal, alongside requirements to expand cargo facilities, and on-going construction on the security building, energy centre and car parking,” he added.

Commissioned in 2004 by then Kurdish Prime Minister, Nichevan Barzani, Erbil International Airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the Middle East.