Bahrain Airport Targets 100 Destinations To Boost Global Connectivity

This strategy is part of Bahrain’s broader vision to establish itself as a key aviation player in the Gulf region despite significant competition from nearby hubs in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In an interview with Aviation Week ahead of Routes World 2024, Bahrain Airport Company CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah outlined the airport’s multifaceted approach to growth, which includes strengthening partnerships with Gulf Air, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority and other key stakeholders. This collaborative effort is focused on enhancing air connectivity, improving passenger experience and driving economic growth through increased tourism and business travel.

“We are more aligned as stakeholders than ever before,” Al Binfalah says. “Our national air connectivity plan aims to reach 100 destinations, and this plan is being executed over four to five years.

“We are targeting major markets in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, and we believe that our coordinated efforts will lead to much better performance in both air traffic movements and passenger traffic.”

According to data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser, Bahrain is currently linked nonstop to 62 destinations worldwide, including Guangzhou and Shanghai in China following their introduction by Gulf Air earlier this year. The national carrier accounts for about 65% of all departure seats from BAH at present, but new partners like Pakistan’s Fly Jinnah are contributing to the airport’s airline diversification.

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Al Binfalah says Routes World 2024 presents a significant opportunity for the airport to engage with additional potential airline partners. "We are preparing to meet with airlines that have the potential to establish routes to Bahrain, backed by solid business cases and analysis," he adds. The airport is also developing an incentive program, offering marketing support and incentives linked to passenger traffic and load factors to attract new airlines.

Al Binfalah says that the airport collaborated closely with charter operators this summer, resulting in a notable increase in point-to-point traffic to new destinations. "We are encouraged by the results and plan to make charter flights a key element of our traffic development strategy, with distinct programs for summer and winter," he adds.

Al Binfalah explains that BAH is positioning itself as a competitive alternative in a region known for its large aviation hubs. Rather than competing solely on size, the airport is focusing on offering a customer-centric experience, which he believes is a key differentiator.

“We want to be recognized as a customer-oriented hub, rather than just for the size of our terminal building,” he says. “Larger airports can often become less friendly to passengers as they grow. We aim to strike a balance between growth and maintaining a seamless, passenger-friendly experience.”

To support this growth, BAH has made significant investments in its infrastructure. The recent redevelopment of the airport, including the opening of a new terminal, has been described by Al Binfalah as “transformational in terms of scope and quality.” The terminal, which has received a five-star rating from Skytrax, is designed to handle up to 14 million passengers annually.

Cargo operations are also a vital part of the airport’s expansion plans. The development of the Express Cargo Village is progressing rapidly. The first phase, covering 12,500 m2(134,550 ft.2), is already operational, with FedEx as the first tenant. Additional phases are planned, with more facilities being developed for other major cargo operators. This expansion is expected to diversify the airport’s revenue streams and support Bahrain’s position as a logistics hub.