Bahrain Nears Pre-Pandemic Traffic, Evaluates $10B Greenfield Hub

Bahrain International Airport (BAH) is poised to almost fully recover to pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels, with an optimistic projection of 9.6 million travelers by the end of 2024, according to CEO Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah.

This anticipated recovery brings the airport close to its 2019 figures, underscoring the resilience of Bahrain’s aviation sector despite ongoing global challenges.

Speaking to Aviation Week, Al Binfalah said the airport's resurgence aligns with Bahrain's national air connectivity plan, which aims to expand to 100 destinations over the next four to five years, enhancing connections with North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

To accommodate this anticipated growth, BAH has recently undergone significant upgrades, including the construction of a new terminal. This facility, which has earned a five-star rating from Skytrax, is designed to handle up to 14 million passengers annually. In addition to the physical expansion, the Bahrain Airport Company is exploring advanced technologies such as single-token and self-service passenger processes to enhance capacity and streamline the passenger experience.

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However, as BAH edges closer to its capacity limits, the kingdom is considering an even more ambitious project—a new $10 billion greenfield airport on a reclaimed island north of the current BAH.

The proposed greenfield airport would replace the existing one, which faces space constraints and has limited potential for further expansion. The new facility would involve extensive dredging, infrastructure development and the construction of a bridge or causeway to connect it to the rest of Bahrain. Additionally, a comprehensive road and rail system would be developed to ensure seamless connectivity between the airport and the mainland.

Netherlands Airport Consultants has been awarded a contract to study the project's feasibility, including public policy and development strategy, as well as technical, economic, financial and regulatory aspects.

“The kingdom is looking forward,” Al Binfalah said. “The study is ongoing, and results are expected toward the end of the year or beginning of next year. Our existing airport has a single runway, and there will come a time when runway capacity is exhausted. However, a new greenfield airport will take Bahrain into the future.”