Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operators and managing body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), recently took part in the 27th The International Air Cargo Association (Tiaca) International Air Cargo Forum and Exhibition (ACF).

ACF, a prestigious biennial event that brings together air cargo decision-makers from across the globe to address key industry challenges and opportunities.

Tiaca’s ACF is one of the world’s premier industry events focusing on air cargo development. Held in a different continent every two years, the 2014 event was hosted by Seoul, Korea and gathered more than 120 international exhibitors and thousands of visiting delegates interested in networking opportunities, partnership prospects and knowledge-sharing.

Robert Mills, cargo manager, Bahrain Airport Company, said: “The cargo industry in the Middle East region is witnessing remarkable growth and continues to be a great success story; according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), it is predicted that the GCC will lead global air cargo growth by 2018. Bahrain is strategically located to reap the benefits of this fast-growing industry and events such as AFC provide an ideal platform to showcase BIA’s advantages and regional competitiveness as an ideal cargo hub.”

The BAC delegates were accompanied by Gulf Air’s GSA (General Sales Agent) and Bahrain Cargo Management team and welcomed hundreds of guests at their dedicated stand, including key industry leaders such as the general secretary of Tiaca Doug Brittin.

The BAC and Gulf Air teams joined forces to position BIA as the most strategic gateway for all supply chain solutions across the Middle East supported by Gulf Air’s enhanced regional and intercontinental cargo networks.

During the event, the exhibiting teams held a series of productive meeting with key airlines and airport service providers and conducted a number of presentations to leading cargo companies including Cargolux, Cebu Air, Polar and Atlas Air.

Mohamed Khalil, chief commercial officer, Bahrain Airport Company, said: “The ACF event was a great success and reflects the efforts of our entire team; these events are vital in helping us attract interest from global cargo airlines and open the doors to future rewarding partnerships. BIA has been a key player in this fast-growing sector since it was established over eighty years ago and we are still proud to be setting benchmarks in this industry.”

BAC is the authority responsible for enhancing BIA and increasing the airport’s contribution to the local economy in line with Bahrain’s Economic Vision.  In its operational role, BAC is responsible for elevating the airport’s operations, infrastructure and services. This is set to improve BIA’s capabilities and cater to the growing number of passengers as well as the changing demands of stakeholders. – TradeArabia News Service