Bahrain International Airport (BIA) has entered into its key phase of development with the launch of the National Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) familiarisation programme to test its new passenger terminal building.

Held in collaboration with Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, which is providing consultancy services for the new terminal, the ORAT aims to efficiently prepare the huge number of stakeholders for one of the largest national projects in the kingdom’s history, said a statement from Bahrain Airport Company (BAC).

It will see more than 5,800 BIA stakeholders undergo a series of comprehensive training workshops over the next seven months to ensure that all parties involved with the new facility are prepared for its opening in the third quarter of this year, it stated.

Accordingly, a dedicated 13-member ORAT training team from BAC, the Ministry of Interior (MoI), and Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) will conduct the training workshops right up until the facility’s launch.

These workshops will cover a range of topics, including a general airport and terminal overview, staff and passenger flows and baggage handling systems. In addition, on-site visits will familiarise trainees with the main terminal, 75 operational experiences, and advanced practical experiments, said the statement.

Announcing the official launch of ORAT, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and BAC Chairman Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said: "The programme is vital within the context of the Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) to ensure the readiness of all services providers, a smooth transfer process to the new facility, and the successful commencement of daily operations."

"It will make sure all relevant government agencies, service providers, suppliers, and airlines at BIA understand what is required to deliver a safe and seamless travel experience for passengers. This next stage provides BAC the opportunity to set high-quality standards for the management and operation of the new terminal," noted Kamal bin Ahmed.

"With its new systems, state-of-the-art equipment, and increased capacity, the new facility will play a major role in the development of the kingdom’s aviation sector," he added.

The minister also highlighted the important responsibility of the trainers and the trainees during this phase, which coincides with the completion of 80 per cent of the construction work on the new terminal building.

"Once all parties are sufficiently trained, around 8,400 community volunteers will participate in the next stage of the operational readiness trials, putting the new terminal’s facilities, services, and processes to the test," he added.-TradeArabia News Service

Copyright 2019 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Disclaimer: The content of this article is syndicated or provided to this website from an external third party provider. We are not responsible for, and do not control, such external websites, entities, applications or media publishers. The body of the text is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither we nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this article. Read our full disclaimer policy here.