BIDS will be soon invited from construction companies seeking to win the contract for a multi-million-dinar expansion to Bahrain International Airport in Bahrain.

This follows the go-ahead last month for the tender process by the Cabinet, which also discussed a new second airport.

Two locations near Fasht Aljarem and North of Diyar Al Muharraq have been reserved as potential sites for the new airport. The Cabinet has commissioned the ministerial committee for services and infrastructure to complete technical and environmental studies related to the new airport in co-operation with the authorities concerned.

Expansion of the existing airport is expected to increase capacity up to 13.5 million passengers a year from its current nine million, said Minister of State for Information Affairs Sameera Rajab.

“But first, a comprehensive maintenance of the current departure building and all its facilities, and an upgrade to the quality of services will be carried out,” she said. “Tenders are being finalised and will be issued for offerings in the upcoming period.”

The 50 per cent expansion is being carried out in co-operation with Mumtalakat and the Transportation Ministry.

An earlier report in the Gulf Daily News said the expected expansion will feature around five additional contact gates, nine remote gates, 40 new check-in counters and a large transfer facility.

“There will be different tenders issued for maintenance and construction through a sequence of different phases. Costs will be determined by bidders, but work will cost millions of dinars considering the nature of the airport and needed facilities and services,” a Bahrain Airports Company (BAC) official was quoted as saying.

Bahrain’s airport was last updated or revamped in 1994.