The new US$1.1bn terminal at Bahrain International Airport began passenger operations on January 28. The terminal will allow the airport to accommodate 14 million passengers per year, thanks to a combination of 104 check-in counters, 36 passport control units and 24 security screening points.
His Excellency Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, minister of transportation and telecommunications in the Gulf state and chairman of Gulf Air Group and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), commented, “This milestone achievement is a prime example of cooperation between GCC countries. The AMP [Airport Modernization Program] is a pillar of the Bahrain government’s economic plan, which reaffirms the pioneering and historical position that the Kingdom enjoys in the aviation sector.
“The new airport is a significant addition to the country’s infrastructure and will support Bahrain’s long-term economic and tourism goals, catalyzing growth in all economic sectors. It also supports the continued growth in regional and international air traffic, building on the Kingdom of Bahrain’s legacy as a link between the East and the West and its strategic location as a regional crossroad.”
Gulf Air operated the first flight into the new terminal, which features dedicated check-in areas for both its Falcon Gold and economy class passengers, as well as a new lounge that is double the size and capacity of the one in the old airport. The airline notes the lounge has a number of features carried over from the previous lounge as well as newly introduced spaces such as a children’s area, shower rooms, prayer space, a quiet area along with live cooking stations and new food and beverage concepts.
