A partnership between Parsons (Asia Pacific) and URS Greiner has been tipped to design the terminal for the new Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou.
'The decision was made at a meeting on Wednesday,' an official at the Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Office said.
The decision signals an end to months of gridlock that stalled one of Guangdong's largest infrastructure projects.
It also indicates the central government is preparing to grant final approval for the airport's feasibility studies.
'Approval is forthcoming,' the airport official said. 'The State Council must take into full consideration the economic and civil aviation situation before making a decision.' Debate over the scale of the project - and the shareholding structure of the company that will be formed to manage the facility - has mired negotiations between central and provincial government officials for the better part of the year.
The airport, which will be capable of handling 27 million passengers a year, was due to be completed by August, 2001, in time for the mainland's ninth National Games.
Airport officials last week said that timetable was unlikely to be met.