Flights boost for Bahrain Airport
12 March 2007



MORE international airlines are to start operating to Bahrain International Airport, it was revealed yesterday.

New airlines that will launch operations to Bahrain are Ethiopian Airlines, Tunis Air and Air India Express.

Lufthansa will also increase its frequency from three flights a week to four, starting next month.

The growth in air traffic movement to Bahrain was revealed yesterday in a meeting at the Mövenpick Hotel, held under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

The number of airlines, including charter flights and cargo carriers, operating through Bahrain is now 36.

It will increase to 40 by this summer and to 47 by the end of the year, said Civil Aviation Affairs Under-Secretary Captain Abdulrahman Al Gaoud.

"This has been made possible due to the open skies policies pursued under the directives of Shaikh Ali," he told a Press conference.

More airlines are increasing the frequency of their operations to Bahrain, added Capt Al Gaoud.

"Al Jazeera Airways will soon increase its number from five to 12 and to 24 by the end of the year," he added.

"Both Etihad Airways and Air Arabia will increase the number of their flights from 10 to 14."

Capt Al Gaoud welcomed the launch of operations by Ethiopian Airlines, Tunis Air and Air India's budget airline Air India Express to Bahrain.

"About 236 movements are currently registered at Bahrain International Airport and it will soon increase to around 260," he added.

Civil Aviation Affairs Assistant Under-Secretary Ahmed Nemat Ali said the number of passengers handled by the airport would reach about eight million by the end of the year.

"The number reached seven million by December last year," he added.

"The annual growth in traffic is currently estimated at 15 to 16 per cent.

"Under the directives of Shaikh Ali, the airport is gearing up with all facilities to meet this great demand."

Ethiopian Airlines will start its service effective June 3, with three flights a week between Addis Ababa and Bahrain.

The flights will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Ethiopian will fly its new Boeing 737-700 aircraft on the route, offering 16 business class and 102 economy class seats, said vice-president (commercial) Busera Awel.

Tunis Air will start operations effective June 4, said Kanoo Travel's travel manager Roy Hughes.

It will start with two flights a week and later increase it to three, he revealed.

Air India manager A Debesh said India's national budget airline Air India Express, which was scheduled to start operations later this month, has postponed the launch date to Bahrain due to technical reasons.

"We as Air India currently operate seven flights a week to India - three to Mumbai and four to Kerala," he said.

"Air India Express, which will replace the Air India services, will operate 11 flights with four to Mumbai, five to Kerala and two to the new destination of Mangalore.

"We hope to start the operations of the budget airline within a few weeks."

Lufthansa will increase its frequency from three to four, starting April 1, added manager (passenger sales) Waseem Shaikh.

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