Business in Bahrain is suffering as a result of the cancellation of flights from northern Europe, according to traders.

They say that things could get worse if the Icelandic volcano continues to keep aircrafts grounded.

Bahrain relies on air transport for a number of products, including fresh fruit, flowers and vegetables as well as premium cheese and dairy products.

'So far we have been okay with the products we import from the UK and Europe, but we will start running out of produce if this goes on much longer,' said Al Jazira supermarket general manager K P Rajendran.

'We get shipments by air of a number of ready-to-eat products and perishables on alternate days

'So far everything has been okay, but we will be running out of these on the shelves next week if there are no flights getting through.'

Flowers from Amsterdam, dairy products from the UK and up-market cheeses from France are among the deliveries that Midway Supermarket group has been missing out on since the countries hit by the volcanic cloud grounded planes.

'We have a daily need for these products which are just not getting through,' said Midway chief operating officer and Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) board member, Khalid Al Amin.

'These are up-market products and while our business will not be damaged if the delay is short, if it continues we will have to start looking at alternative sources.'

Business is likely to suffer not just from the lack of deliveries but because businessmen face great difficulty in travelling to meet important customers and clients, said Export Development Society chairman Dr Yousef Mashal.

'The shutdown of air travel means it is difficult to get deliveries of a wide range of products, including medicine, perfumes and food,' he said.

'It is also hitting hotels and restaurants which are not getting visitors from Europe and will have an effect on tourism if it continues for long.

'Unfortunately no one seems to know how long this volcano will keep planes grounded.

'It just shows you that a small local natural disaster can hit the economy worldwide.'

Dr Mashal, who is chief executive of the Mashal Group, said his own business had been affected through a lack of supply for some products.

This includes the delivery of perfumes, which the company had been waiting for.

Al Zayani Commercial Services has also been hit by the shutdown, according to the president and owner Afan Al Zayani.

'We are waiting on an urgent shipment of equipment which was dispatched on the ninth of this month, but has still not arrived,' said Al Zayani, who is also a BCCI board member.

'Business has suffered because air cargo is not getting through and even when traffic returns to normal we will have problems with the backlog of goods that have not been arriving.'-TradeArabia News Service