Aerospace Global News
Charlotte Bailey
27 November 2024
As Bahrain International Airport looks set to equal pre-Covid passenger traffic by the end of this year – with the facility set to welcome ten million passengers in 2025 – Bahrain Airport Company CEO Mohammed Yousif Albinfalah explained his “ambitious strategy” to extend the airport’s some 70 destinations served to 100 in the coming years.
“I think by the end of this year, we will be close to reaching the pre-COVID passenger traffic,” mused Albinfalah, speaking to Aerospace Global News at the recent Bahrain International Airshow. Indeed, statistics so far this year are indicative of the exponential growth at the heart of the airport’s ambitions: a 13.2% rise in passenger volume in H1 2024 (reaching 4.6 million) and a 9.4% rise in air traffic movements, with over 48,000 flights recorded.
Despite acknowledging the knock-on impact airlines’ own issues (including delivery delays and engine availability) have had on the airport’s ambitions, Albinfalah remains optimistic: citing “an aggressive programme to target new airlines and develop new destinations for the Kingdom of Bahrain”. Inkeeping with the airport’s key role within the national tourism strategy, “our strategy and annual plans will be very much dedicated to explore new airlines, new destinations, both legacy and low cost as well,” he elaborated.
Read on: Bahrain Airport Company outlines “aggressive programme” for continued growth
