Bahrain airport to grow eastwards.

(From Gulf Construction)

Consultancy bids are currently being evaluated for the first phase of a BD70 million ($186 million) Bahrain International Airport expansion programme and a contract award is expected shortly

A total of six consultants have submitted bids for the contract for the BD50 million ($133 million) first-phase expansion and the successful bidder is expected to be announced by early August

The project, which entails extending the terminal to the east, will make Bahrain airport one of the most modern and busiest in the region, according to Transportation Minister Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa

The project will include eight new airbridges, 10 aircraft stands, travelators and expansion of the baggage reclaim area. The number of check-in desks will be doubled from 40 to 80, while the immigration counters will be increased from eight to 14

"The expansion is aimed at meeting the demand of the ever-increasing number of passengers as well as more foreign airlines operating to our airport," said Shaikh Ali. "In line with our open-sky policy, 5.2 million passengers used the airport last year - one million more than the previous year." The first phase is due for completion in 2008, after which work is expected to be launched on the second phase of the terminal expansion programme. This phase will involve the extension of the airport terminal on the west side, enabling the airport to handle an additional four to five small type (Code C) of aircraft

In a separate development project to be implemented by the private sector, a new car-park complex - which can take up to 4,000 cars - is also to be built at a cost of BD343 million. To be constructed at the existing public car-park, the five-storey complex covering 40,000 sq m will include an executive business centre, retail and entertainment areas and will be linked to the main passenger terminal