Munich Airport’s worth as a vital driving force behind Bavaria’s economic development makes it the ideal partner for the Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), according to Kamal Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB).
Kamal Ahmed’s comments follow the BAC announcement that Munich Airport will support the $4.8 billion expansion of BahrainInternationalAirport. The deal, signed at the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS), includes operations consultancy, on-the-ground support for new facilities, and development solutions for employees including on-the-job training at Munich airport itself. Munich Airport has become one of Europe’s leading aviation hubs and since opening at its present location, airfreight volume has increased by 300 percent and passenger figures have increased to 34.5 million (2008).
Kamal Ahmed said: “MunichAirport is a genuine success story and, as an economic factor, there are clear synergies with what the BAC has set out to achieve. The plans are designed to significantly bolster Bahrain International Airport’s standing as a regional hub in the Middle East; just has Munich has done so in Europe. Its success will play an integral role in achieving the ambitions of Vision 2030 and National Economic Strategy, designed to support further diversification of the economy and ultimately elevate national living standards by creating better opportunities for Bahrainis.”
Dr. Michael Kerkloh, CEO of Munich Airport, added: “We are pleased that the Bahrain Airport Company has selected us as their partner to develop the BahrainInternationalAirport, which is not only a business asset on its own but is of highest national relevance – to achieve the Bahraini Economic Vision 2030. We look forward to close cooperation in the field of airport management and business development.”
Under the BAC plans, annual passenger capacity will treble from 9 million to 27 million within the next 30 years. The BahrainInternationalAirport will also become a base for global logistics suppliers and freight forwarders. The airport will soon be home to Cargo Oasis – an expanded handling facility that will treble the Kingdom’s international air cargo to a capacity of one million tonnes per annum, comparable with London’s Heathrow Airport. It is just 13km from other new developments, the US$280m Bahrain Logistics Zone (BLZ) and US$500m Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), between them offering the shortest logistics transfer time to and from sea/air in the Gulf.
Kamal Ahmed added: “Air transport contributes a great deal to the Middle East economy, not just in job creation and GDP but also in the catalytic impact it can have in enabling development in many other sectors. The partnership between BAC and Munich Airport will ensure that Bahrain can benefit from such economic impact. In so doing, it will ensure that our infrastructure and operations are strengthened in line with our commitment to provide the optimum environment for those looking to access the trillion dollarGulf market.”
Dr. Osama Al Ali, CEO of BAC said: “MunichAirport will work closely with Bahrain Airport Company to set a high standard for all services and major facilities for exceptional improvement. The Munich Airport team will work hand to hand with the BahrainInternationalAirport staff to improve the ground and air services provided to the airport stakeholders to ensure that BahrainInternationalAirport facilities and Aviation Services are supplied and allocated in a mutually beneficial and equitable manner and with the airport’s best interests in mind.”
The deal reflects the close commercial and economic relations between Bahrain and Germany. The two countries share a number of agreements including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on trade and industrial cooperation signed in 2006 and an agreement to protect bilateral investments signed in 2007. German companies including the likes of Allianz Group and ICT leaders Siemens and Software AG are becoming increasingly active in the Kingdom.
Bahrain is the historical centre of aviation in the Gulf. The Kingdom launched the region’s first international carrierGulf Air – now celebrating its 60th anniversary – and was also the first to open an international airport. Today, more than 40 airlines operate scheduled services to over 50 international destinations. MunichAirport, which has already made substantial investment in cargo infrastructure and plans to continue its own expansion efforts, welcomes 99 airlines flying to 71 countries.
