Bahrain International Airport

Bahrain International Airport Template:Airport codes (Template:Langx, romanized: Maṭār al-Baḥrayn al-dwalī) is the international airport of Bahrain. Located on Muharraq Island, adjacent to the capital Manama and the city of Muharraq, it serves as the hub for the national carrier Gulf Air. The airport is managed by the Bahrain Airport Company. Established in 1927, it is the Persian Gulf's oldest international airport.

History

Origins

The origins of Bahrain's international airport dates to 1927 when a chartered flight to Bahrain landed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The first scheduled commercial airliner to arrive in Bahrain, in 1932, was a flight from London to Delhi operated on a Handley Page H.P.42 aircraft named Hannibal. The H.P.42 carried only 24 passengers, and the flight from London had taken several days of flying at speeds of 100 miles per hour. Through this regularly scheduled service, Bahrain became established as one of the Persian Gulf's first international airports<ref>Template:Usurped. Bahrainairport.com. Retrieved on 2010-10-19.</ref> as well as one of the busiest airports in the Middle East.

During World War II, the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command Central African Wing, being designated as Station # 13. It functioned as a stopover en route to Abadan Airport, Iran or Sharjah Airport, in present-day UAE on the Karachi-Cairo route.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 1943 until Bahrain's independence in December 1971, the Royal Air Force maintained a military installation at the airfield known initially as RAF Bahrain and from 1963 as RAF Muharraq.<ref>Overseas Stations-M Air of Authority.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The majority of these facilities were later acquired by the Bahraini flag carrier airline, Gulf Air, while a small portion continues to be utilized by the U.S. Navy as Aviation Support Unit (ASU) Bahrain.Template:Citation needed

20th century

In 1936, the operation of H.P.42 aircraft from London to India via Bahrain had been stepped up to a twice-weekly frequency. In 1937, Bahrain saw the regular service of the Empire sea planes. The landing strip of these giants on the water was from where the marina club is located in Mina Salman today. From the 1950s, BOAC operated several services a week through Bahrain. These included weekly services to Karachi, Singapore, Hong Kong and three times a week to Sydney. 1950 was a significant year not only for Muharraq as an international airport, but also for Bahrain's commercial aviation history. In this year, a new local airline, Gulf Aviation Company, was formed – the forerunner of Gulf Air. The company started with only one aircraft, a second-hand Anson Mark II, which was used initially on services to Dhahran. However, within two years, the fleet had expanded to four de Havilland aircraft and DC-3s for use on a steadily growing network in the Persian Gulf. This established Bahrain on an international stage. It was easily the most modern and advanced airport in the Persian Gulf with a good runway, control tower, lighting, communication facilities and even restaurants. It began to attract other carriers such as Middle East Airlines, Air India, Air Ceylon and Iran Air – mostly operating Dakotas. In December 1961, a new passenger terminal opened at the airport. During 1970–1971, RAF Muharraq was scaled back and eventually closed. In December 1971, the airport opened new passenger facilities, which included a wide area that could accommodate four 747 aircraft. In 1976, the airport marked another significant first with the inauguration of supersonic flights, which saw the start-up of regular BA Concorde service between London and Bahrain.<ref name="BAC">Template:Cite web</ref> Pan Am introduced direct flights to New York in December 1976. It operated the route with Boeing 747SPs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 1980s and 1990s, major facelifts took place and several major airline companies made the airport a destination. In 1994, a US$100 million terminal was inaugurated which boosted the airport's maximum capacity to 10 million passengers a year.<ref name="BAC" /> In July 1994, Gulf Air started nonstop service to New York on Airbus A340s. Due to the length of the route, westbound flights occasionally had to make a refuelling stop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

21st century expansion

In 2008, the airport was placed under the management of the newly created Bahrain Airport Company, which falls under the umbrella of the Gulf Air Holding Company, which in turn is owned by Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 8 October 2009, it was announced that BHD 1.8 billion expansion of Bahrain International Airport will start in 2010. The expansion, planned over the next 30 years, intended to triple the passenger capacity to 27 million a year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In April 2010, United Airlines began service to Washington, D.C., via Kuwait. The carrier flew the route with a Boeing 777.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> United left Bahrain in January 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Since 2020 the airport has placed an increased effort to enhance the sustainability of the airport, including a LEED gold certification for the new Terminal Passenger Building in 2021,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> achieving a second consecutive ISO recertification for quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management systems in March 2024<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and becoming the first airport in the world to achieve the International Air Transport Association Environmental Assessment Certification in November 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Facilities

Terminal

File:Bahrain Airport 2024.jpg

The airport's new terminal building, in April 2024

The airport's new $1.1 billion terminal opened on 28 January 2021.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Template:Convert, the Passenger Terminal increases Bahrain International Airport's (BIA) capacity to 14 million passengers and 130,000 air traffic movements per year with a handling capacity of 4,700 bags per peak hour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The new terminal cost 1.1 billion USD. The terminal features check-in halls, check-in desks, passport control booths, E-gates, security lanes, a Template:Convert duty-free retail space, lounges, food and beverage zones, 24 departure gates, and 7,000 new parking spaces both at-grade and in multi-story facilities.

Cargo

Through the airport's Template:Convert Cargo Terminal, a wide range of services are offered, including export cargo sales, transhipment, inter-airport trucking, and customs clearance. Bahrain is also the regional hub for DHL Aviation. With 115 weekly flights and 250 vehicles, DHL operates an integrated air and land network. Other cargo and logistics companies operating out of the airport include FedEx, TNT Express, Aramex, and Global Logistical Services (GLS).Template:Citation needed

Ground handling

Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) provides airport services at Bahrain International Airport (BIA). Supported by a 3,000-strong staff, BAS is an ISAGO-accredited Ground Service Provider. Overseeing the Kingdom's oil, gas, and petroleum assets, Bahrain Jet Fuel Company (BJFCO) is a joint venture between Bahrain Airport Company and the nogaholding. BJFCO is currently constructing a fuel farm complex in the northeastern area of the airport as part of a major restructuring of the Kingdom's aviation fueling industry.

Awal Private Terminal

The Awal Private Terminal at Bahrain International Airport is a dedicated facility designed to provide exclusive services for VIP passengers, government officials, and private aviation clients.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The terminal offers private check-in, security screening, and immigration procedures. The Template:Convert terminal is operated by Hala Bahrain, a subsidiary owned by Bahrain Airport Company.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Statistics

Traffic figures

Traffic by calendar year, official ACI statistics

	Passengers	Change from previous year	Aircraft operations	Change from previous year	Cargo (metric tons)	Change from previous year
2005	5,581,503	Template:Increase 8.50%	73,891	Template:Increase 1.88%	334,832	Template:Increase10.91%
2006	6,696,025	Template:Increase19.97%	80,538	Template:Increase 9.00%	357,277	Template:Increase 6.70%
2007	7,320,039	Template:Increase 9.32%	87,417	Template:Increase 8.54%	385,278	Template:Increase 7.84%
2008	8,758,068	Template:Increase19.65%	101,203	Template:Increase17.77%	369,822	Template:Decrease 4.01%
2009	9,053,631	Template:Increase 3.37%	103,727	Template:Increase 2.49%	342,734	Template:Decrease 7.32%
2010	8,898,197	Template:Decrease 1.72%	106,355	Template:Increase 2.53%	329,937	Template:Decrease 3.73%
2011	7,793,527	Template:Decrease12.41%	102,068	Template:Decrease 4.03%	292,147	Template:Decrease11.45%
2012	8,479,266	Template:Increase 8.80%	105,931	Template:Increase 3.78%	262,386	Template:Decrease10.19%
2013	7,371,651	Template:Decrease13.06%	90,837	Template:Decrease 14.25%	245,146	Template:Decrease6.57%
2014	8,102,502	Template:Increase 9.91%	96,193	Template:Increase 5.90%	276,390	Template:Increase12.75%
2015	8,586,645	Template:Increase 5.97%	100,625	Template:Increase 4.61%	256,408	Template:Decrease7.23%
2016	8,766,151	Template:Increase 2.09%	101,345	Template:Increase 0.72%	263,956	Template:Increase2.94%
2017	8,477,331	Template:Decrease 3%	95,966	Template:Decrease 5%	289,331	Template:Increase10%
2018	9,082,707	Template:Increase 7%	96,030	Template:Increase 0%	288,235	Template:Increase0%
2019	9,578,797	Template:Increase 5%	95,486	Template:Decrease 1%	291,017	Template:Increase1%
2020	2,269,232	Template:Decrease -76%	38,182	Template:Decrease -60%	300,205	Template:Increase 3%
2021	3,020,942	Template:Increase 33%	51,177	Template:Increase 34%	325,801	Template:Increase 9%
2022	6,888,284	Template:Increase 128%	82,487	Template:Increase 61%	380,414	Template:Increase 17%
2023	8,711,018	Template:Increase 26%	93,648	Template:Increase 14%	353,542	Template:Decrease -7%
2024	9,350,580	Template:Increase 7%	101,534	Template:Increase 8%	392,811	Template:Increase 11%
Source: Airports Council International, World Airport Traffic Reports & Bahrain's Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) Annual Reports. (years 2005,<ref name="2005 WATR">Airport Council International's 2005 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2006,<ref name="2006 WATR">Airport Council International's 2006 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2007,<ref name="2007 WATR">Airport Council International Template:Webarchive's 2007 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2009,<ref name="2009 WATR">Airport Council International Template:Webarchive's 2009 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2011,<ref name="2011 WATR">Airport Council International's 2011 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2012,<ref name="2012 WATR">Airport Council International's 2012 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2013,<ref name="2013 WATR">Airport Council International's 2013 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2014,<ref name="2014 WATR">Airport Council International Template:Webarchive's 2014 World Airport Traffic Report</ref> 2015,<ref>Bahrain airport statistics Template:Webarchive 2015 Bahrain airport statistics</ref> 2016,<ref name="2016 Airport Statistics">Template:Cite web</ref> 2017<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2018,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 2019<ref name="Stats 2019">Template:Cite web</ref>)

Busiest routes

Busiest routes at Bahrain International Airport (by number of flights weekly)

Rank	City	Country	Number of flights
1	Dubai	Template:Flag	104
2	Doha	Template:Flag	57
3	Riyadh	Template:Flag	54
4	Kuwait City	Template:Flag	52
5	Abu Dhabi	Template:Flag	47
6	Istanbul	Template:Flag	35
7	Jeddah	Template:Flag	30
8	Dammam	Template:Flag	28
9	Muscat	Template:Flag	26
10	Cairo	Template:Flag	23
11	London, Mumbai, Sharjah	Template:Flag, Template:Flag, Template:Flag	21
12	Amman, Delhi	Template:Flag, Template:Flag	20
13	Kochi	Template:Flag	17
14	Kozhikode	Template:Flag	14
15	Chennai	Template:Flag	10

Ground transportation

The airport is situated in central Muharraq and has transportation connections with the capital city Manama through the Airport Avenue roadway and Shaikh Isa Causeway. Bahrain International Airport is served 24/7 by several taxi operators. Bahrain Public Transport Company (BPTC) provides buses.

Accidents and incidents

• On 12 June 1950, an Air France Douglas DC-4 crashed 5.5 km (3.4mls) into the sea SE of Bahrain because the pilot did not keep an accurate check of his altitude and rate of descent during the approach, allowing the aircraft to impact the sea. Pilot fatigue also may have played a factor. 46 out of the 52 passengers and crew were killed.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
• On 14 June 1950, just two days later, an Air France Douglas DC-4 flying the same leg crashed again into the sea at night SE of Bahrain because of similar errors on approach two days prior. Also BAH lacked radio landing aids and suitable runway approach lights. 40 of the 53 passengers and crew died.<ref>Template:ASN accident</ref>
• On 9 September 1970, British Overseas Airways Corporation Flight 7755, a Vickers VC10, flying from Bombay (now Mumbai) to London via Bahrain and Beirut was hijacked after departing Bahrain and forcibly landed at Dawson's Field in Jordan. The hijacking was done by a Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine sympathizer who wanted to influence the British government to free Leila Khaled.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• In August 2000, a Gulf Air Airbus 320 (Gulf Air Flight 072) from Cairo crashed when landing at the airport. All 135 passengers and eight crew died.
• In August 2017, an American F-18 fighter jet crash-landed at the airport, with the pilot safely ejecting.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• List of airports in Bahrain
• Transport in Bahrain
• List of the busiest airports in the Middle East

External links

• Template:Official website