A senior airline chief who visited Bahrain for a business trip and remained due to the airspace closure has praised the kingdom’s spirit and generosity during these tough times.
beOnd, the world’s first premium leisure airline’s chief executive officer, Tero Taskila, shared his personal experience of an unscheduled extended stay in the kingdom during the ongoing crisis.
“I flew to Bahrain for a two-day business trip and I’m now on day 11,” Mr Taskila said in a post on business social media platform LinkedIn yesterday. “When the airspace closed, my first reaction was frustration. Meetings reshuffled. Flights cancelled. Plans out the window.
“But somewhere around Day 4, something shifted. I stopped trying to leave and started paying attention.”
He said during the holy month of Ramadan, the kingdom has a ‘special rhythm’. “The evenings come alive with warmth and generosity,” he said. “The pace slows just enough to let you see things clearly. The people here welcomed me like family – not as a tourist, but as someone who belongs.
“But, what really opened my eyes, was the transformation happening across the kingdom. Cranes everywhere. New luxury resorts are taking shape along the coastline. World-class malls and residential towers rising from the ground. Entire districts are being reimagined.
“The skyline is changing – fast – and it tells a powerful story about where Bahrain is heading.”
He went on to say in the post that the development needs two things: foreign direct investment and high-value visitors.
“Luxury travellers who will come, stay and spend,” added Mr Taskila, who has a proven track record of successful airline start-ups in the Middle East, North America and Asia. “Investors who see a kingdom building for the future and want to be part of it. That’s exactly what beOnd was built for.
“When we chose Bahrain as our base, it was a strategic decision – location, regulatory environment, infrastructure. But after 11 unplanned days on the ground, driving past construction sites, watching new neighbourhoods take shape, and experiencing the spirit of this place during Ramadan, I’m more confident than ever.
“We made the right call. Sometimes the best discoveries happen when your plans fall apart.
“Thank you, Bahrain. I’ll be back – on purpose next time.”
beOnd last month announced the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) to explore the establishment of a Bahrain-based Air Operator Certificate (AOC).
The LOI creates a framework for long-term collaboration in airline operations, workforce development, maintenance and innovation. It reflects shared goals to boost Bahrain’s appeal as a premium destination and connecting hub between Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
The airline plans to operate and base up to 10 premium-configured aircraft in Bahrain by 2030, serving high-value leisure and business markets.
Over its first five years of operations in Bahrain, the airline projects a contribution of approximately $1.2-1.5 billion to Bahrain’s GDP.
The initiative is expected to help create more than 1,200 direct high-skilled jobs and support around 6,000 indirect roles across tourism, hospitality, logistics and associated services.
sandy@gdnmedia.bh
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