DOHA: Lindner Depa Interiors (LDI), a joint venture between Dubai-based Depa Ltd and Germany's Lindner AG, is seeking 900 million dirham or $250 million in compensation from New Doha International Airport for what it called the unjust cancelling of a contract.
The launch of the $15.5 billion airport in the Qatari capital has been put back several times due to delays in construction.
It missed a revised launch date of April 1 this year and is not expected to open until next year.
LDI Group Chief Executive Mohannad Sweid said the company had launched its claim because it considered the termination of the $250 million deal to fit out 17 lounges at the airport to be unjustified.
Significant financial and reputational damage had been caused to LDI, it said in a statement, adding that the matter was being considered by the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris.
Qatar Airways, expected to be the operator of the airport, declined to comment on the LCI statement.
A spokesman for New Doha International Airport could not be reached for comment.
The contract was canceled in 2012 after LDI declined to accept new contract terms, which the company described as "non-favourable".
Qatar Airways said in December 2012 it was filing a $600 million claim against LDI for causing major delays to the opening of the airport and thereby deferring the airline's expansion plans.
It was not immediately clear if that case has been filed. (Reuters)
