Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has edged out four other international airport operators to win a bid to manage Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, local media reported on July 11.

The job scope includes taking over the operations, maintenance and revenues of the international and domestic terminals of the airport and all their related buildings, equipment and ground handling, fuel supply and bonded warehousing operations in the airport, The New Straits Times reported.

"This project also involves the construction of a new international terminal with a 10 million capacity in 30 months. The current international terminal will be converted to an all domestic terminal subsequent to construction of a new terminal," MAHB said in a statement.

The total concession fee is EUR1.93 billion (US$2.61 billion) that is structured over a 20-year concession period, with no concession fees payable in the first three years.

"This is indeed a great news for Malaysia airports as it further reinforces our status as one of the most sought-after service providers in the field of airport operations," MAHB Managing Director Auk Seri Bashir Ahmad said.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is the second largest airport in Istanbul with two terminals, covering an area of 1,337 hectares.

MAHB was invited to enter the tender last month by its Turkish partner, GMR Infrastructure Ltd and Limak Group. The three companies will work together to develop, manage and operate the airport.

As an airport operator, MAHB will take up a minimum equity stake of 20 percent in the joint venture.

Currently, MAHB's involvement overseas is in the Hyderabad International Airport and the Delhi Airport in India, and Astana Airport in Kazakhstan.

MAHB manages and operates 39 airports in Malaysia, five international, 16 domestic and 18 short take-off and landing ports.