Bahrain Airport Company, FedEx Express sign contract to operate advanced facility

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator of Bahrain International Airport (BIA) and FedEx Express have signed a 10-year contract for the operation of a 9,000 square meter facility at BIA’s new cargo area.

Comprised of a 5,000sqm warehouse and a 4,000sqm open area, FedEx’s new facility will support its operations in the kingdom and is scheduled for handover in the third quarter of 2023. Spanning 25,000 square meters, BIA’s new cargo area will double the airport’s capacity to accommodate larger volumes and flows of air cargo traffic and e-commerce shipments.

“Greater collaboration between the public and private sectors is driving growth across industries, including the logistics market, which forms a fundamental part of the GCC economy. With the support of its partners and the development of its advanced infrastructure, BIA is poised to accommodate rising local and regional demand for safe, efficient, and reliable air cargo services,” said Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, minister of transportation and telecommunications and chairman of BAC.

“The new cargo area is an important part of the overall growth strategy adopted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and a key component in the Airport Modernisation Programme. BAC has begun the process of appointing a major contractor to build the project, which includes state-of-the-art warehouses, aircraft parking, and associated infrastructure.”

“The new cargo area will enable BIA to handle larger volumes more efficiently, better cater to express cargo customers’ needs, and create new job opportunities. Its development also supports government-led efforts to transform logistics and air cargo into one of Bahrain’s primary industries.”

The logistics sector aims to increase the competitiveness and speed of the procedures linking Khalifa Bin Salman Port with BIA. Several strategic objectives have been set to achieve this goal by 2030, he added.

Jake Meuse, FedEx Express regional president for the Middle East, Indian subcontinent, and Africa, said: “The GCC is witnessing public-private cooperation that promotes growth in a range of industries, making it an important region for FedEx Express. The logistics market forms a fundamental part of the GCC economy, and we remain committed to serving our customers across Bahrain and connecting them with people and opportunities around the world.”

FedEx Express announced its transition to a direct-serve presence in Saudi Arabia to meet the country’s growing international shipping demands earlier this month.

Read: FedEx Express to invest over $400m in Saudi Arabia

The company aims to invest more than SAR1.5bn ($400m) into the Saudi economy over the next 10 years through talent management and local operations and infrastructure.

Last year, FedEx Express launched a new route between the UAE and Israel to strengthen trade between the two countries.

Read: FedEx Express launches new route between UAE and Israel to strengthen ties