AIR passenger traffic jumped nine per cent during the Eid holidays this year compared with the same period last year, according to a top official.
Bahrain International Airport handled 142,725 passenger movements during the five-day break, up 9pc from 130,000 last year, and 1,331 additional flights, an 8pc increase from 1,224 last year.
Meanwhile, the King Fahad Causeway recorded a milestone this Eid since it opened three decades ago – clocking 118,000 travellers on the fourth day of the break.
“Bahrain International Airport smoothly and efficiently handled the surge in passenger and flight traffic during the Eid break,” said Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) chief airport operations officer Michael Hohenberger yesterday.
“This proves the airport’s ability to handle larger volumes.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the collaborative efforts and support of BAC’s partners, which include the Immigration and Passport Control, Customs Affairs, Airport Police from the Interior Ministry and Bahrain Airport Services (BAS) and Bahrain Airport operations teams.”
BAC operates and manges the airport.
Mr Hohenberger said the impressive figures registered this year comes at a time when the $1.1 billion Airport Modernisation Programme (AMP) is on track to cope with an anticipated surge in passenger and airline traffic.
“Once the new passenger terminal building opens, BIA’s capacity will increase to 14 million passengers a year and we expect to see a corresponding rise in passenger flights, especially during the holiday periods.”
Separately, the Saudi Gazette newspaper yesterday reported King Fahad Causeway officials as saying that a record 117,935 passengers crossed the bridge last Monday, the fourth day of the festival.
“During the first three days of Eid, 160,506 passengers crossed into the kingdom (Saudi) while 199,021 crossed into Bahrain,” said the report.
Significantly, no tailbacks were reported during the Eid holidays this year due to the addition of 21 lanes for passengers departing to Bahrain and six for returning passengers.”
Meanwhile, hoteliers in Bahrain confirmed this Eid brought in the much-needed revenues for the hospitality sector.
“Our properties were fully booked during the holidays and the general occupancy level in all four-star hotels in Bahrain was over 90pc,” said Elite Hospitality Group chief operating officer Sarosh Aibara.
“I was sceptical because it was a long holiday and Gulf tourists usually plan to go on short trips to other destinations, but we received last-minute bookings that helped.
“We are now looking forward to welcoming visitors planning short breaks during the summer months.”
Gulf Hotel Convention and Spa general manager Fares Yactine said hotels benefited from the large number of tourists during the Eid holidays.
“The extended Eid break definitely had a positive impact for all hotels in the kingdom, where a substantial increase in room occupancy as well as food and beverage revenues were observed,” he said.
Bahrain has doubled the contribution of tourism to the gross domestic product (GDP) as the government is pumping more than $13bn in infrastructure projects as part of efforts to develop the sector.
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