Bahrain Air has confirmed it will establish a new hub in Saudi Arabia and will launch international flights from King Fahad International Airport in the city of Dammam to destinations in Lebanon and Sudan. The Middle East carrier will open the new base on June 13, 2012 with three times weekly rotations to both Beirut and Khartoum with a single based Airbus A320.

The airline, the second national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain after Gulf Air, has seen its activities from its home market impacted by political tensions in the country over the past year and its growth into Saudi Arabia, where it already serves Jeddah and Riyadh is a significant development. However, the flights are currently only displayed as operating until July 28, 2012.

“This is a great moment in the history of Bahrain Air,” said Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer of the carrier. “The Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia has been a very important market for us, ever since we started operation. But we can now truly call it our second home as we open up our second ‘HUB’ in Dammam.”

Bahrain Air says it owes its thanks to Civil Aviation Authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their “far sighted support” in making this possible and opening new opportunities for communities in the Eastern Province. Middle East Airlines and Saudi Arabian Airlines already serve the Dammam – Beirut market although there are currently no direct flights between Dammam and Khartoum.

Alongside the growth in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain Air is to also resume flights to Alexandria/Borg el Arab with a four times weekly service commencing from June 21, 2012. “Over the past weeks we have received many enquiries from our valuable customers looking for a direct flights to Alexandria during summer period,” said Jayamohan Velappannair, Sales Manager, Bahrain Air. “We are delighted that we have been able to meet with the market need.”