Terminal operations
between ground departure and arrival,” Al Binfalah says. “We didn’t want the size to be overwhelming. It’s balanced between the positives of the old terminal and the ability to fulfil a capacity of 14 million passengers per annum.”
The facility is also Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold-certified, making it the largest green building in the Kingdom of Bahrain. “There is a lot of natural light and the quality of the internal environment, the quality of air and the HVAC system play an important role in making it a very healthy environment for passengers,” Al Binfalah says. The building also features its own hotel and spa for transit passengers and an airport clinic with a dedicated team of healthcare professionals available around the clock. In addition, there is a state-of-the-art information kiosk providing details about public transport, taxis, car rentals, tourist attractions and more, while parking facilities have been improved with a new electronic system with self-service kiosks for payment. Passengers are also encouraged to make purchases wirelessly using digital wallets.
Expanding route networks The combination of the extra capacity and advanced technology at the new terminal means Bahrain is more than equipped to expand its route network and grow as a hub. Yet while Al Binfalah is confident that more foreign airlines will ultimately decide to launch services to Bahrain, this has not yet materialised. “Just like airports, airlines are going through a tough time; expansion and development of new routes is not at the top of their priority list at this stage,” he says. Nonetheless, the airport is currently working on five expressions of interest for airlines to connect to new destinations via Bahrain. They are also working closely with their partner, Gulf Air, which launched an extensive list of new destinations for their summer
schedule in March. In 2020, the airport lost around 76% of traffic, but is now back to 51% of its historical traffic. Al Binfalah believes that by 2023 the airport will be operating at close to 2019 levels again.
Next steps for Bahraini aviation With the new facility effectively extending the life of the airport until at least 2040, Al Binfalah is now considering the next steps for the long-term growth of Bahrain’s aviation sector. As part of the Bahraini government’s economic recovery plan – a wide-ranging strategy designed to restore its post-pandemic economy and balance its budget by 2024 – five new townships will be constructed across the Kingdom, one of which will be centred around a new airport. “We are working very closely with the government to develop the urban planning for this township. We have recommended the size of the future terminal for the Kingdom of Bahrain. We will probably go to the market this year and we’re exploring the option of working with of a consultant to develop various levels of strategy for the project,” Al Binfalah says. In the meantime, he and his team at the existing airport plan to build on the solid technology foundation they have created through a five-year digitisation strategy. “Technology is quite a tricky thing. It is on the move, it keeps changing. The system that you installed yesterday is probably dated today,” Al Binfalah notes. “Now that we have installed a modern platform that meets the expectations of our current passenger demographic, we believe that moving forward, we need to be one step ahead and look at all the advancements that are in the pipeline and the technologies that are being experimented with across the industry. That’s our focus now. We want to reflect on where the industry is going both airport-wise and airline-wise, and try to implement necessary changes over the next five years.” ●
Left: The new terminal at Bahrain International Airport now has an annual capacity of 14 million passengers.
Below: Passing through Bahrain’s borders will be made easier and faster by way of an automated border control system.
Opening page: The check-in and baggage counters at the new terminal are serviced by integrated systems, including self-service bag drop facilities.
$1.1bn 14 Future Airport /
www.futureairport.com
The cost of the new state-of-the-art terminal at Bahrain International Airport.
million
The passenger capacity of the new terminal at Bahrain International Airport.
Bahrain Airport Company 29
Bahrain Airport Company
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