Forty per cent of the construction work on Bahrain International Airport’s $1.1-billion modernisation project has been completed.

Transportation and Telecommunication Minister Kamal Ahmed told the GDN, Gulf Construction’s sister publication, that the expansion was set for full completion in the third quarter of 2019 with the airport being four times bigger than its current size.

“We are planning to offer several retail and dine-in outlets, duty-free and other businesses for bidders – whether local or international – along with having special spaces for traditional products,” he said.

The airport serves around nine million passengers a year, but with the expansion it is expected the number would increase up to 14 million.

The Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) – the largest infrastructure project in Bahrain – includes a new terminal that will see the number of check-in counters and passenger loading bridges double, while retail and commercial outlets are also due to triple in size.

“We are definitely on track as per our schedule and operating within our allocated funding of $1.1 billion,” Bahrain Airport Company chief executive Mohammed Al Binfalah.

 “The 2019 deadline will be met. We are busy on various fronts such as the construction of a fuel farm, a multi-storey car-park and have just completed the construction of the central utility complex that will feed power and water to the airport.”

The main contract of the project has been awarded to UAE’s Arabtec and TAV Construction from Turkey.

Boasting a built-up area of 207,000 sq m, the new iconic terminal will include a 4,600-sq-m departure hall, 104 check-in counters, 36 passport control booths and 24 security screening points.

The expansion will meet the popular green building certification Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold specification and will also feature the latest in energy and water efficiency. The project is being financed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development as part of the Gulf Development Fund to help Bahrain meet its development needs.

“There will be a transit hotel (airside hotel and spa) for passengers who have long layovers with about 40 rooms designed to the best international standards,” said BAC AMP development director Derek Hendry. “In addition, there will be a fully automated baggage control, self check-in kiosks and a premium Gulf Air lounge that will be three times bigger than the present facility.”

He said the multi-storey car-park will be able to accommodate more than 3,500 vehicles.

BAC’s chief development and technical officer Abdulla Al Janahi said Phase Two of the project included plans for a station as part of the Bahrain light rail network. The rails stations will be connected to footbridges and bus stops in several places including the Seef District, City Centre Bahrain, Bahrain Financial Harbour, Bahrain Bay and Bahrain International
Airport.