Muharraq, Bahrain, 2018-Aug-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) hosted the second in a series of workshops for Bahrain International Airport (BIA) stakeholders to discuss the national Operations Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) platform, that aims to ensure a smooth transition to BIA’s new Passenger Terminal Building. In attendance were senior officials from the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), other government authorities, Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Services (BAS), airlines, BAC management, representatives from key organisations currently operating at BIA as well as new concessionaires appointed for the new Passenger Terminal Building.
The workshop, which began with a welcome speech by BAC Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, was split into three sessions that highlighted BIA’s ORAT progress. During the first session, representatives from Fraport AG, which is providing consultancy support services for the new Passenger Terminal Building, and Hill International, which is providing project management services, provided updates on the project’s ORAT and construction programmes.
Fraport AG Project Director, Alexander Larisch, gave a presentation on the status of the latest ORAT activities and timelines and the expectations for the next phase of the project. Hill International Project Director, Uzair Wasif, highlighted the new Passenger Terminal Building’s construction progress and major milestones.
During the second and third sessions, experts from Fraport AG working on Phase 2 of the ORAT project delivered presentations on the progress of core processes, including trial, training, and transfer activities. The operational readiness trials, which are expected to take place in the second quarter of 2019, will involve all of the new Passenger Terminal Building’s stakeholders. The carefully coordinated ORAT programme is designed to progressively test various functions, systems, and procedures to ensure they are ready for the transition phase.
Mr Al Binfalah said: “The Airport Modernisation Programme’s objectives are to transform the overall airport experience and increase the aviation sector’s contribution to the local economy. In order to achieve these important goals, we need to ensure the operational readiness of the new Passenger Terminal Building and its on-schedule launch, which both hinge on the success of the ORAT platform. BAC, its partners, and airport stakeholders are taking steady and coordinated steps to ensure all ORAT preparations and activities are implemented as planned. These workshops play a vital role in the process by providing a platform for us to exchange information and discuss crucial topics. They are also an important component of a comprehensive programme, designed by BAC in cooperation with Fraport AG, which aims to ensure the operational readiness of all parties involved with the new Passenger Terminal Building. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone involved in the ORAT process for all their hard work, cooperation, and commitment.”
The workshop follows the 4th meeting of the National ORAT Steering Committee, which was formed to operate the new state-of-the-art Passenger Terminal Building at BIA, as per Royal Order (10) for 2017, issued by HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the BDF and First Deputy Prime Minister.
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Source: BAC