WHILE the Gulf countries have allocated an estimated $90 billion for airport development over the next few years, it is the UAE that is leading the race in investment in airport development activity with Dubai having allocated $10 billion and Abu Dhabi $6.8 billion.

THE Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) has launched the expansion of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), with the appointment of Dar Al Handasah, a leading global engineering and design practice, as the design consultant. The expansion project, which is expected to be complete by 2015, will boost capacity by 50 per cent taking it to 13.

AQUANTUM leap in projected air traffic – four times in passenger and six times in cargo traffic – is predicted during the next 20 years. According to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), it is, therefore, critical that ground infrastructure keeps pace with the growth of traffic.