HIGH FLYER!
18 January 2007



Bahrain International Airport is soaring in the global rankings, with record passenger, cargo and flight figures. Passengers traveling through the airport rose by 20 per cent to seven million last year, up from 5.7m in 2005, said Deputy Premier Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

The unprecedented growth in passenger and cargo traffic has been fuelled by the substantial increase in Arab, regional and international flights and the establishment of new air companies, he said.

Shaikh Ali also paid tribute to Bahrain-based national carrier Gulf Air for contributing to the massive growth at the airport.

"The record passenger growth crowns the other brilliant airport achievements for 2006," said Shaikh Ali.

"These include the second award for best airport serving between five and 10m passengers, in terms of marketing and promotions and the two global awards granted to Bahrain Duty Free."

Bahrain Airport Services also won a top global award for best business departure lounge.

Shaikh Ali was speaking as he toured the airport, inspecting the progress of work on key projects aimed at ensuring world-standard services, as part of a BD126m expansion programme.


<< Press releases main page