Peer learning crucial to BIA’s success: Minister

Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman, Kamal Ahmed yesterday stressed the importance of learning from other airport operators in the region while reviewing the progress of the new Passenger Terminal Building scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2019.

“It is important to learn from other airport operators in the region that have successfully completed development projects,” the minister said while chairing the 5th meeting of the National Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) Steering Committee formed to oversee the smooth transition of operations to Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) new Passenger Terminal Building. Explaining the importance of transferring airport operations to the new Passenger Terminal Building, the minister said that it “is a critical success factor of the Airport Modernisation Programme.”

Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP), the minister told the committee, is the biggest infrastructural development in Bahrain and one of the most important national projects in the Kingdom’s history. The committee was formed as per Royal Order (10) for 2017, issued by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister. The Minister also expressed his appreciation for the steady progress being made by the ORAT National Committee to ensure the smooth transition of operational processes to the new terminal, In attendance were BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, representatives from Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA), Bahrain Customs, the Ministry of Interior’s Nationality, Passport, and Residence Affairs, and Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide.

The Minister and the committee were briefed on the project’s progress by Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, which is providing a comprehensive ORAT programme to ensure the operational readiness of the airport’s new infrastructure. Government agencies involved in the project also delivered presentations on the project’s latest developments.