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MANAMA: The new Bahrain International Airport terminal is set to reach new heights with the completion of the second phase of development in the first quarter of next year in a post-pandemic world of global travel.
Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Kamal Ahmed revealed that it will include two new gates and four additional aircraft aprons.
“The airport modernisation plan since February 2016 has seen the first phase come into operation on January 28, 2021,” Mr Ahmed told Shura Council members in a written statement. “But there is more with the second phase – comprising two additional gates and four added aircraft parking spaces – ready by the first quarter of next year as we reach our intended capacity of 14 million passengers per year.”
The minister said that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is set to assess and grade the airport by the end of next year as part of its scheduled inspections procedure.
He was responding to questions by Shura human rights committee chairman Ahmed Al Haddad on when the new airport terminal would reach its full capacity, when ICAO officials were going to be invited for assessment and when the facility would receive its new accreditation.
“Regarding the future plan to invite ICAO to closely see the progress, the ministry has presented a working paper during a recent meeting at the ICAO Middle East Regional Office.
“Whenever Covid-19 travel restrictions get eased, office officials will be called in to visit the new airport and control tower.”
He added that this was in the run up to a major assessment by the ICAO itself.
“ICAO officials are expected by the end of next year (2022) to assess aviation safety protocols and procedures,” he explained. “Operational practices will be a main part of the general assessment by ICAO before new grades are given.”
Personal
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has financed the $1.1 billion Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) through a grant offered as part of the GCC Bahrain Development Programme.
A Fuel Farm Complex that will reinforce Bahrain’s position as a centre of aviation fuel services in the GCC, and a private aviation terminal serving businessmen and private aircraft owners are also part of the airport modernisation plan.
The new airport terminal is four times the size of the original and designed to deliver a more personal, Bahraini feel to visitors.
The GDN reported in February that projects worth millions of dinars were being lined up under the 2021-2022 national budget ratified by His Majesty King Hamad following lengthy negotiations between MPs, Shura Council and the government.
The budget included financing for the continuation of expansion work at Bahrain International Airport to reach its 14 million passenger capacity.
The expansion is estimated to cost BD38.8m over two years, with BD6.89m more needed after 2022.
A new air traffic control building will be constructed at a cost of BD4.85m with BD96,000 needed beyond 2022. A planned state-of-the-art automatic aircraft landing system is also estimated to cost BD780,000 and BD810,000 after 2022.
The government has already spent BD413.81m on the airport expansion, BD250,000 on consultancy for the new landing system and BD6.61m on its air control building.
Equipped with the latest technology and supported by new infrastructure, it will not only increase the airport’s capacity but also deliver a ‘hassle-free experience and the highest standards of luxury’.
There are also major on-going road improvements around the airport planned and progressing under a separate budget.
Mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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