His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain, has directed that the operations of the new Bahrain International Airport passenger terminal begin on January 28.
This announcement followed a tour of the new airport by HRH Prince Salman to review developments on the Airport Expansion Project, and the readiness of the new Passenger Terminal Building, said a Bahrain News Agency report.
The Airport Expansion Project is one of the kingdom’s largest national development projects within the air transportation sector in the last 20 years. The project includes a new Passenger Terminal Building four times the size of the current building, with the passenger capacity increased to 14 million annually.
The project also includes a central utility complex, 5,500 parking spaces, a greatly expanded duty-free shopping area, two reception and hospitality lounges for first class and business class travellers, a private aviation building providing services for private jet owners and passengers, in addition to a central security gate, a private building for rescue and firefighting services, and an aviation fuel field.
During the visit, HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister noted that strategic infrastructure projects such as the terminal reflect the kingdom’s progress in developing its national economy and supports the kingdom’s comprehensive development, led by HM the King.
HRH Prince Salman praised the skill and dedication demonstrated by Bahrainis to enhance important national assets in the kingdom.
The Airport Expansion Project will enhance the kingdom’s connectivity and further strengthen its position as an increasingly important hub in the region, he said. Moreover, the project provides quality opportunities for citizens within the kingdom’s logistics sector, a key priority sector in Bahrain’s diversifying efforts, he said.
HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development and Infrastructure Projects Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa; and the Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa on the tour.
During the tour, HRH Prince Salman was briefed by Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication Kamal bin Ahmed on the latest developments related to the project.
