Bahrain International Airport

BAH Direct to DC

Passengers can now fly direct to the United States of America from Bahrain International Airport

Passengers can now fly direct to the United States of America from Bahrain International Airport as United Airlines launched its first flight service to the Kingdom, operating daily flights throughout the week to Washington DC via Kuwait. The service is already in operation and the first flight from Washington arrived to Bahrain on Sunday 18th April.

To celebrate the inaugural flight a press conference and welcome ceremony was hosted by Bahrain Airport Company, and attended by Captain Abdul Rahman Al Gaoud, Undersecretary of the Civil Aviation Affairs; US Ambassador to Bahrain, H.E. Adam Ereli; Mark Schwab United's Senior Vice President - Alliances, International and Regulatory Affairs; and Dr. Osama Al Ali, CEO of Bahrain Airport Company, amongst other officials and guests.

The flight service is the first time an American carrier flies to Bahrain in several years and is yet another milestone in Bahrain Airport Company's pursuit to galvanize the Kingdom's position as the gateway to the world; linking passengers and cargo to destinations across the globe.

Both countries stand to benefit from this significant development, as the flight service will facilitate tourism and business activities between the two nations and help bolster the strong relationship they share.

During the press conference, Dr. Osama Al Ali commented: "Today we are proud to announce that we have taken one step closer to realizing our ambition of a transcontinental aviation hub and we welcome United Airlines to Bahrain International Airport. I would also like to thank Civil Aviation Affairs for paving the way for this latest service and for their continued support."

Dr. Al Ali also commented on the aspirations to build on this achievement: "With United Airlines flying to Bahrain daily, we have now expanded our network to include another important destination via a highly acclaimed carrier. We want to grow our relationship with United Airlines to become one of the prime destinations on their route map to the Middle East. That means operating more flights, to more destinations, including non - stop to the Mid West and the West Coast. As we strengthen our ties with United Airlines, I am confident we can take Bahrain International Airport to new heights".

Mark Schwab also commented: "This new destination extends the United footprint in the Middle East and further strengthens our international route network.  Our Washington Dulles hub will provide travelers from Bahrain with a wide range of connections across North America and, combined with the first-rate service we offer on board, this is a winning combination for travelers from Bahrain and other parts of the region."

US Ambassador Adam Ereli also added: US Ambassador Adam Ereli also added, "The launch of United Airlines' direct air service between Bahrain and the United States is an important development in relations between our two nations. The daily flights between Manama and Washington D.C. will bring America and Bahrain closer than ever.  Bahrain now has a direct link to the largest economy in the world, which will strengthen its position as a key investment hub and banking center.  The flight will also enable U.S. companies to travel directly to Bahrain and is the result of the rise in business traffic that has resulted from the Bahrain-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.  We look forward to working with our Bahraini partners to make the most of the exciting opportunities for growth that this service offers"

Ends

Issued by JWT on behalf of Bahrain Airport Company

For media enquiries, contact Jian Yang, Account Director, JWT

Tel: +973 17563714, Fax: +973 17563701Email: jian.yang@jwt.com

• Posted 20/04/2010