Last week the Bahrain Airport Company hosted the first convention of the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Routes 2015. As His Excellency Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Muhammad, minister of transport and communications in the Kingdom of Bahrain, told the assembly in his opening address: “This event comes at a very important time for the aviation in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In 2013 a new law was brought in to regulate civil aviation, and we are commited to investing heavily in order to develop the sector in technological and human terms at tall levels of operation, development and modernisation of the Bahrain International Airport programme. The launch of the programme coincided with the economic development and growing demand of the past few years, and as evidence of our commitment to developing the infrastructure of the aviation sector to keep up with the needs of the Kingdom and achieve future sustainable development.”
The conference was attended by representatives of about 50 airlines and more than 70 airports, in addition to tourist institutions and several groups involved in the aviation sector from all over the region. The conference was attended by representatives from all the major airlines in the Middle East, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Gulf Air and Emirates, as well as a strong representation of airlines in Africa such EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines and South African Airways. There were also several airlines from outside the region, including British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cebu Pacific and Veuleng.
“It is a great honour for us at the Bahrain Airport Company to host the first round of the Routes MEA conference in Bahrain,” Muhammad Yusuf Abannflah, CEO of Bahrain Airport, said. “We are very happy to see such a large turnout from the regional aviation community, and we are fully confident in the opportunities inherent in this conference for all who participate in it from the airports, airlines and stakeholders in the sector.”
Abannflah said such an important event in the Kingdom of Bahrain could promote business in the tourism and aviation sectors within the local framework and attract new airlines.
Adrian Newton, aviation and technology director at the leading events company UBM EMEA, said his organisation was delighted to review the first round of the Routes MEA conference in the Kingdom of Bahrain. “The Middle East and Africa are the most dynamic of the world’s aviation markets, and this event will bring the aviation community to the Kingdom on a larger scale, allowing for Bahrain, which is hosting this unique event, an ideal opportunity to showcase their destination and to emphasise its position as a centre of aviation in the region,” Newton said. “There is no doubt that the decisions to be taken during this conference will be crucial in shaping the future of aviation in the region over the coming years.”
Up to 1,000 of the direct meetings held during the conference were to discuss air services. This was a strategic beginning to the Routes MEA summit, which took place over two days and also provided valuable information about the aviation sector in the region through a series of panel discussions. The list of speakers included an elite group of influential personalities from all over Africa and the Middle East, including Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive of Air Arabia; Paul Byrne, CEO of Flynas; Richard Bowden, commercial Chief Executive of Fastjet; and Muhammad Khonji, regional director of the Middle East office of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
“An exclusive list of aviation experts have lined up to highlight current topics that have a significant impact on the aviation sector in general and our region in particular,” Abannflah said.
The discussions that took place during the summit were necessary to keep the aviation community in the region informed of the latest trends in strategy and advance the progress and development of the aviation sector in this part of the world, which is a key hub for the movement of people and goods.
“The Bahrain Airport Company is responsible for the development of the Bahrain International Airport and will increase the airport’s contribution to the local economy in line with the economic vision of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” Abannflah continued. As part of its operational role, the Bahrain Airport Company is responsible for airport operations, improving services and modernising infrastructure.
“The aim is to develop the potential of Bahrain International Airport to meet the growing number of passenger requirements, as well as meet the changing requirements of its shareholders,” he said.
