Operations at Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) new passenger terminal building is set to launch on schedule, it was revealed.

Speaking to a panel of global aviation experts in the UK recently, a Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) delegation of young professionals said that BAC's National Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) platform is streamlining the airport’s transition to the new Passenger Terminal Building, coordinating amongst multiple parties and ensuring all strategic readiness initiatives are implemented as planned.

The ORAT World Summit 2018, which was held in London from June 26 to 29, provided a platform for airport operators to share insights on newly completed airport and terminal expansion projects around the world. More than 60 aviation professionals from 10 countries attended the event, which also featured a number of workshops by global ORAT experts.

The delegation included BAC Tahleeq project management officer, Roaya Ahmed; Public relations officer, Lubna Fahmy; Development coordinator, Fatema Awadh; ICT & ORAT PMO Coordinator, Lubna Al Fayez; and senior administration officer, Juma Elias.

According to a report in Gulf Construction, close to 60 per cent of the work on the $1.1 billion passenger terminal has been completed and the first phase is expected to open in the third quarter of 2019.

BAC’s National Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) platform is streamlining the airport’s transition to the new Passenger Terminal Building, coordinating amongst multiple parties and ensuring all strategic readiness initiatives are implemented as planned.

BAC chief executive officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: "Transferring airport operations to the new Passenger Terminal Building is a critical success factor for the whole of the Airport Modernisation Programme and BAC is taking all necessary steps to ensure a smooth transition. The summit provided an excellent opportunity for the BAC participants to learn valuable lessons from leading airport operators across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US who have successfully completed airport expansion and development projects."

The process of turning a newly constructed building into a fully functioning and operational terminal needs to be carefully managed. To ensure preparations are being implemented as planned, the National ORAT Steering Committee, which was formed to operate the new Passenger Terminal Building at BIA, has held several meetings to address key issues, the report said

Once construction of the new Passenger Terminal Building is completed, it will undergo evaluation and operational testing to measure efficiency and readiness of operations before its official opening. Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, which specialises in inaugurating airport infrastructure projects, is providing ORAT consultancy services for the new Passenger Terminal Building, it said.

All phases of the project are scheduled for completion by June 23, 2020,  the report in Gulf Construction said.