Bahrain’s new $1.1 billion airport will satisfy the kingdom’s needs for the next ten years, by which time a brand new airport should be built, according to Sameer Nass, chairman of Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Nass told Arabian Business that the airport’s new terminal, billed as one of the biggest developments ever undertaken in Bahrain, was “only temporary” and described it as a “transitional airport”.

The new mega development, 207,000sq m in size, includes 104 check-in counters, 36 passport control booths and 24 security screening points. It will quadruple the size of the airport’s current terminal operations, and will have capacity to handle 14 million passengers a year.

But Nass, speaking on the sidelines of the Arab Businessmen and Investors Conference in Bahrain, said: “The new airport is only temporary, it’s a transitional airport. There are plans to build a whole new airport and new runways, which will be about ten years down the road.

“Now, what we’re doing, this new airport terminal, demolishing the existing terminal and rebuilding it, that will sustain us for the next ten years.

“We feel that Bahrain requires a new airport with better facilities.”

Established in 1927, it is the Gulf's oldest international airport. “We’re lucky that it’s still there,” said Nass.

The new terminal was thought to be ready to open in December this year – to coincide with the country’s national day – however, last month the opening was pushed back to the end of Q1 next year, according to Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince.

“The airport is the image of the county,” added Nass. “It is very important.”