With operations at Bahrain airport’s new passenger terminal set to launch on schedule, the Bahrain Airport Company's (BAC) board of directors is now keen to ensure the operational readiness of the airport transfer service for the smooth transition to the new terminal.

During a recent meeting chaired by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) chairman, Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, the committee reviewed progress details of the project by Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, which is providing a comprehensive Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (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.

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 Transportation Minister stressed the importance of learning from other airport operators in the region that have successfully completed development projects in order to ensure an improved experience for passengers travelling through the new Passenger Terminal Building, which is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2019.

The Minister also met with Al Binfalah, representatives from Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), Gulf Air, other airlines operating out of BIA, and members of the National Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) Steering Committee. They discussed the importance of developing the airport’s relationships with service providers and suppliers to ensure Bahrain International Airport's (BIA) facilities are managed and operated to the highest standards.

He said: “The Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) is the biggest infrastructural development in Bahrain and one of the most important national projects in the Kingdom’s history. I am pleased with the steady progress being made by the ORAT National Committee to ensure the smooth transition of operational processes to the new terminal, and with the effectiveness of the ORAT Steering Committee’s periodic meetings.”

“Transferring airport operations to the new Passenger Terminal Building is a critical success factor of the Airport Modernisation Programme. The process needs to be carefully managed to ensure the successful commencement of daily operations from day one. The ORAT platform is streamlining the process by coordinating among multiple parties and ensuring all strategic projects are implemented as planned,” he added. - TradeArabia News Service