Passenger Traffic Surges at Bahrain Airport

Summer travel and restored flight schedules expected to drive further demand

TDT | Manama 

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain's air traffic rose sharply in May after a steep fall in April, new Civil Aviation Affairs figures show. Passenger numbers at Bahrain International Airport climbed from 76,397 in April to 487,069 in May, a rise of 410,672, or about 538 pc.

The April fall came during the Iran-US war and the Iranian attack on Bahrain and the Gulf, which disrupted flights and airspace use across the region.

Arrivals rose from 37,289 passengers in April to 234,124 in May, up by 196,835, or about 528 pc. Departures increased from 39,108 to 252,684, a rise of 213,576, or about 546 pc.

Aircraft movements also rose. Total arrivals and departures went from 926 in April to 4,875 in May, up by 3,949, or about 426 pc.

Incoming aircraft movements increased from 472 to 2,437, a rise of 1,965, or about 416 pc. Outgoing movements rose from 454 to 2,438, up by 1,984, or about 437 pc. The figures also show a rise in traffic through Bahrain's airspace. Overflights rose from 548 in April to 11,242 in May, an increase of 10,694, or about 1,951 pc.

Movements in the flight information region rose from 1,474 to 16,117, up by 14,643, or about 993 pc.

The rise comes after the opening of the new passenger terminal at Bahrain International Airport, which raised airport capacity. Bahrain's Gulf location, links with nearby markets and the presence of international cargo and logistics firms also shape its air freight activity.

Summer travel is likely to add to passenger demand in the coming months, with annual holidays, family trips, resident travel and seasonal flights. Cargo volumes are also expected to draw support from the return of regular flight timetables and higher operating capacity.