BAC to issue MRO Zone tenders early 2016

The zone is being conceived around existing MRO operators MENA Aerospace and TEXELAir and, according to Mohamed Khalil, BAC’s Chief Commercial Officer, will take two years to complete with a dedicated entrance, new run and taxi-ways, aprons, power facilities and a second hangar and a multi-storey car park with 600 spaces.

Khalil said a budget of US $87 million has been set aside for 2016 for the airport modernising programme of which one third has been allocated for detailed design and infrastructure works for the zone and for a Gulf Air hangar.

He said tenders would be issued in Q1 next year for a Code E hangar, two additional Code C hangars, four dedicate workshop areas and an engine run-up area “perhaps to be operated by a strategic partner” and the multi-storey car park. Q1, said Khalil will also see the issuance of an Expression of Intent for the programme’s General Aviation Terminal with the development model open to BOOT, BOT, joint venture and concessionaire for development and operations. An Expression of Intent is also to be issued for the advertising concession.

Khalil said initial talks with aviation players has resulted in keen interest based on Bahrain’s “highly competitive” real estate costs which he says are “lower than others in the region”, lack of slot restrictions and ease of setting up business in Bahrain.

The modernising programme is aimed at catering to Bahrain’s aviation needs until 2034 with the aviation sector now contributing 3.5% to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP.