Bahrain International Airport is Certified as a 5-Star Airport

By Peter Miller, Skytrax – London, UK

Bahrain International has been Certified as a 5-Star Airport by the international air transport rating agency Skytrax, becoming the third airport in the Middle East to achieve this highest quality rating.

Opened on the 28th January 2021, Bahrain International Airport has today been certified as a 5-Star Airport in recognition of the high standard of facilities and services being provided in this new airport. The 210,000 sq m terminal increases the airport’s capacity to 14 million passengers a year.

His Excellency the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman, Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said: “This international-level achievement reflects the tireless efforts of the BAC team, our strategic partners, and airport service providers, as well as ‘Team Bahrain’. They all strive to implement the highest international standards in their provision of services to travelers and airlines and their close supervision of the airport’s facilities, to ensure operational continuity and the highest levels of efficiency and safety.”

HE the Minister expressed his pride in this achievement during the new Passenger Terminal’s first year of operation. This reflects the efficacy of its design, construction, and ability to meet and exceed the needs of travelers. He noted that Bahrain’s gateway to the world serves all economic sectors, and the completion of the project’s second phase will ensure that the airport is able to deliver an unforgettable travel experience.

Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Airport Company said: “I would like to thank BAC employees for their contributions towards this achievement and their tireless efforts in helping to ensure the highest levels of service during the airport’s first year of operations. I would also like to thank our strategic partners for their continuous support and cooperation, which contributed to the airport making a major impact globally. This prestigious accolade inspires us to continue to offer an exceptional travel experience in 2022. We will continue to elevate our high standards as we continue with the Airport Modernization Program.”

He added: “This achievement reflects the excellence of the airport’s operations, services and facilities, and its 5-star customer service. The new passenger terminal is equipped with advanced technology to enhance efficiency and security while providing improved levels of service aimed at exceeding customer expectations. These advancements streamline many time-consuming processes and procedures, reducing waiting times and giving passengers more control over their journeys.”

Edward Plaisted of Skytrax said: “This is a fabulous achievement for Bahrain International Airport, becoming just the third airport in the Middle East to achieve this highest 5-Star Airport Rating. It is a much deserved recognition of the high standards provided here at Bahrain International Airport. Described as a boutique airport, it provide an excellent range of passenger facilities with a very pleasant ambience, and the terminal design makes this a most customer-friendly airport, whether departing, arriving or in transit.”

The airport provides customers with seat power across all sections of the terminal, and is meeting best practice for these features, alongside boarding gate and waiting area seating featuring a wide choice of seat types – from conventional bench seating to recliner chairs, sofas and comfortable armchairs.

The terminal design results in a quick and easy process for departing, arriving and transfer customers, and is described as being very user-friendly in terms of layout and design. The terminal enjoys excellent natural light, and departing customers enjoy excellent views out across the airfield. Design finishes, ceiling styles, lighting and some special artwork features all contribute to a relaxing ambience in the terminal.

Smart security is in operation, enabling laptops, liquids etc to remain in the customer’s hand luggage for screening, all contributing to an easier travel process. The airport has a wide array of shopping and food & beverage options, with further facilities due to open in 2022 to add more choice.

There are many well equipped washrooms, baby change areas across both airside and landside parts of the terminal. For customers wishing to rest between flights, there is the airside Bahrain Airport Hotel which offers spacious family rooms, luxurious standard rooms, compact rooms and state-of-the-art sleeping pods, as well as a 5-star spa service operated by Bahrain Airport Gulf Hotel.

» Bahrain International Airport Rating

THE 5-STAR AIRPORT RATING

The 5-Star Airport Rating is our most prestigious and unique mark of Quality Achievement and a global benchmark of Airport Excellence, which is awarded following detailed audit analysis and assessment of each airport’s product and front-line service standards. The World Airport Star Rating was introduced by Skytrax in 1999 and is a premier evaluation system grading airports on their quality standards.

The 5-Star Airport rating recognises those airports that are providing exceptional standards of facilities and staff service to customers across all front-line areas of the airport environment. To achieve the top 5-Star Airport rating, the staff service or product standards must be either meeting or setting global best practice for the item under evaluation.

ABOUT BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Bahrain International Airport is the gateway that connects the Kingdom of Bahrain with the world. The state-of-the-art, futuristic new terminal building is designed to deliver comfort and connections with a more personal, Bahraini feel. It provides a hassle-free approach to modern air travel and strengthens the country’s position as a financial, cultural, and aviation center in the region. Bahrain Airport Company has been managing and operating the airport since 2010. The airport caters to a growing number of airlines and serves as the regional hub for global cargo companies, including DHL, which has made Bahrain as their base to serve the Middle East since the 1980s. Operations were transferred to the new Passenger Terminal in January 2021, increasing the airport capacity to 14 million passengers per year and cementing its reputation as an attractive hub for airlines and travellers.

ABOUT SKYTRAX

Skytrax, the International air transport rating organisation, was established in 1989 and is based in London, United Kingdom. The World Airport Rating programme is a leading international Rating system operating since 1999, which classifies airports across the globe by the quality of product and staff service.