*** BIA handled 728,614 passengers in June | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

BIA handled 728,614 passengers in June

Bahrain International Airport (BIA) handled 728,614 passenger movements during June, which is an increase of 25.7 per cent compared with the same period last year, BIA’s operator and managing body, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), said yesterday.

The significant growth comes on the back of an increase in the number of airlines operating out of BIA and the introduction of several new routes. The Kingdom’s national carrier, Gulf Air, added Baku (Azerbaijan), Alexandria (Egypt), Sharm El Shaikh (Egypt), Casablanca (Morocco), and Calicut (India) to its list of destinations. Atlas Global added a new flight from Antalya to Bahrain and Turkish Airlines added a new flight from Trabzon to Bahrain.

The BIA also welcomed the arrival of Azerbaijan Airlines, which commenced a direct service twice a week from Baku to Bahrain. In terms of airline market share at BIA during the month, Gulf Air retained its leading position with 64.8 per cent of the total. Emirates was second with 6.3pc, and FlyDubai was third with 4.9pc.