Contents
Key Facts
| Name: | Bahrain International Airport |
| Alternate Name: | |
| Location: | Bahrain |
| Region: | |
| ICAO Code: | OBBI |
| IATA Code: | BAH |
| Usage: | Civil |
| Category: | Public Airport |
| Start: | |
| End: |
Ownership
Operator: Civil Aviation Affairs, PO Box 536, Manama
Operator’s Identity Codes:
| Code | Operator |
| Station #13 | USAAF |
Location
| Country | Region | Sub-Region |
| Bahrain | Muharraq Governorate | Muharraq |
Address: Not known.
Nearest Town/City: Manama – airport is 4 miles (7 km) northeast.
| Latitude | Longitude | |
|---|---|---|
| Deg. Min. Sec. | N 26° 16′ 15.0″ | E 050° 38′ 01.0″ |
| Decimal | N 26.270834° | E 50.633610° |
Elevation: 2 m/6 ft
[geo_mashup_map map_content=”global” center_lat=26.270834 center_lng=50.633610 zoom=13 name=”airfields”]
History
Name Changes
| Bahrain Airport | 1932 – 1994 |
| Bahrain International Airport | 1994 – Present |
Narrative Summary
This page covers the public/civilian side of the airfield – the military base known as Muharraq Airfield is described separately.
Bahrain International Airport is located on Muharraq Island, to the north of the capital Manama. The Airport has been a stopping-off point for air travellers since the 1920s, and became a key staging point in the Imperial Air Route between Britain and India. The first recorded Imperial Airways flight occurred in August 1927. By 1936 the service through Bahrain was twice weekly, but in 1937 the route was taken over by flying boats landing at Mina Sulman. In 1950 BOAC resumed commercial landplane services. In 1954 a new Flight Information Region based on Bahrain was established. Soon after this, the first jet aircraft began making stops. The airport has been expanded and updated repeatedly to keep pace wih the massive boom in air traffic since the 1960s, and it is now one of the busiest airports in the Middle East, capable of handling 10 million passengers a year. It was used as the initial base for the fixed wing aircraft operated by the Bahrain Amiri Air Force until Shaikh Isa AB opened.
Key Dates
| August 1927 | First recorded commercial flight | |
| 1942 | Control handed to USAAF | |
| 1945 | RAF takes over control | |
| 1950 | Civil passenger services resume | |
| 1961 | New passenger terminal opened | |
| 1976 | Concorde flights from London begin | |
| 1994 | New terminal building opened |
Runways
| Direction | Length | Width | Surface | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metres (m) | Feet (ft) | Metres (m) | Feet (ft) | ||
| 12L/30R | 3956 | 12979 | 60 | 197 | Paved |
| 12R/30L | 2530 | 8302 | 45 | 148 | Paved |
Residents
The following organisations are, or were, permanently based at this location:
Based Military Units
| Unit | Operator | Arrived | Departed | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Wing | BDF | 1976 | 1987 | Various |
| Helicopter Wing | BAAF | 1987 | 1994 | Various |
Based Civilian Operators
| Operator | Arrived | Departed | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Air | 1950 | Current | Scheduled pax services |
| Bahrain Air | 2007 | Current | Scheduled pax services |
| Bahrain Amiri Royal Flight | 1981 | 2010 | VIP Transport |
Photo Gallery
To be added.
More Information
Books
‘The Story of Aviation in the Kingdom of Bahrain’ [Order this book from Amazon UK]
Magazines
Feature articles to be added.
Websites
wikipedia: Bahrain International Airport
| Disclaimer: Information is provided on this page for historical purposes only, and not for aerial navigation. |