HUNDREDS of police and customs personnel will undergo intense training to identify and respond to aviation threats.
It is part of an agreement between Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the Interior Ministry and Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), ahead of the opening of the new passenger terminal building.
The countdown has begun for the new state-of-the-art passenger terminal at Bahrain International Airport, which is expected to open in the coming months.
A pre-launch trial of the $1.1 billion expansion, which started last month, will continue to test the readiness of different departments with thousands of volunteers involved in the mega process.
Under the new agreement, annual civil aviation security training will be provided to all Interior Ministry personnel, including Customs officers deployed at the new terminal.
Details were announced yesterday by BAC as it signed the agreement with GAA under which hundreds of ministry staff will undergo the annual training.
BAC chief executive Mohamed Al Binfalah said the company was looking forward to working with different entities to mitigate risks and work towards “Bahrain’s new gateway to the world”.
“In the spirit of partnership and teamwork, BAC is pleased to enter into this tripartite arrangement with the Interior Ministry Airport Police, Customs Affairs and Gulf Aviation Academy to support aviation security training at Bahrain International Airport,” he said.
“We believe it will achieve the shared objectives of all the parties concerned in elevating the airport’s response to a never ending risk environment and are proud of this partnership as a model example of Team Bahrain working towards achieving a single vision for Bahrain’s new gateway to the world.”
The training programmes will cover international aviation security requirements to ensure personnel have the necessary skills to identify and respond to civil aviation threats and risks.
“We will be providing the latest training programmes and methodologies aimed at addressing the ever-evolving safety and security challenges of the aviation industry,” said GAA chief executive Captain Dhaffer Al Abbasi.
The new expansion, the Airport Modernisation Project (AMP), will boost passenger capacity to 14 million and 130,000 air traffic movements per year.
It is also expected to act as a catalyst for growth, helping BAC attract a number of new airlines and cargo companies to Bahrain.
Meanwhile, Gulf Air chief executive Krešimir Kučko said the airline has “high expectations” for the new terminal.
“The new terminal is set to open this year and we have high expectations,” Mr Kučko told the GDN.
“It is also part of our boutique strategy.”
The new 207,000sqm terminal building will include a 4,600sqm departure hall, 104 check-in counters, 36 passport control booths and 24 security screening points.
New technologies include hi-tech scanners, biometric e-gates and an automated baggage handling system. Other features will include two main hospitality lounges, one run by national carrier Gulf Air and the other by BAC.
In addition, the new duty-free area is four times larger than the existing terminal and retail areas will be three times bigger.
Currently all roads leading to the airport are being revamped in different phases, while Bahrain Specialist Hospital (BSH) signed a contract to operate the airport clinic for the new passenger terminal building for the next 10 years.
sandy@gdn.com.bh
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