CONSTRUCTION work on a remote aircraft apron project at the Bahrain International Airport is progressing in full swing, according to an official close to the project.

Ghazi Saeed Al Saleh, director of Strategic Projects Directorate, said the directorate, within the framework of the Ministry of Works, will aim to deliver this project as soon as possible so as to address the shortage of aircraft parking bays and to accommodate a growth in passengers and air traffic.

Al Saleh said a total of eight parking bays will be delivered to Bahrain Airport Company in consecutive phases. The first phase, comprising two parking stands, will be delivered by the middle of this month, with the entire project completed by July 2011.

The bays will be fitted with the latest advanced ground services equipment (GSE) providing pre-conditioned air, 400 HZ power supply, potable and blue water supplies, and vacuum sewage evacuation systems.

The parking bays will also have a multi-aircraft ramp system which is capable of handling either nine (eight wide-body and one narrow-body) aircraft or 17 narrow-body aircraft simultaneously, and a new apron taxiway and two new links to the parallel taxiway.

The bays are designed to accommodate the new generation of mega planes such as the Airbus A380 superjumbo and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

This project will also enhance Bahrain International Airport’s ability to compete in the region’s aviation industry.