The new Bahrain International Airport
My final instructions from Chester were "Don't forget to Blog about the airports, the flights, the hotels, everything! "He even sent me a matrix of what to cover:
However my first flight from the New $1.1 billion Bahrain International Airport, whose opening was delayed by COV 19 , is something special. Its not Changi in Singapore ( rain vortex and rainforests) , or even King Ha]mad in Doha Qatar ( huge bear and art works) and its not as big as Dubai with its monorail to take you from the gate to the mandatory COV 19 test. But it's better than Kuwait ( mind you my garden shed in the UK was better than Kuwait airport) and the old Bahrain airport!
The Rain Vortex in Changi airport, Singapore
Bahrain's new airport "207,000 square meters in size, roughly quadruple the old terminal. The new, expanded, airport has the capacity for handling about 14 million passengers per year."
( source : https://samchui.com/2021/02/05/first-look-of-the-1-1-billion-new-airport-terminal-of-bahrain/#.YO_G0egzZPY accessed 15.07.21)
The new Bahrain Airport
( source : https://samchui.com/2021/02/05/first-look-of-the-1-1-billion-new-airport-terminal-of-bahrain/#.YO_G0egzZPY accessed 15.07.21)
The landscaped road to the departures is impressive, as is the exterior , but once inside, on the day of my travel, you are met by a massive queue to check in at the Gulf Air desks. This was on a weekday in the early morning ( 7 am) . Clearly COV 19 has complicated travel and check in as you have to present paper documentation of your vaccination and PCR test, as well as your ticket, passport and residence visa ( which I don't have as I have a separate Flexi visa.). Then if you have excess baggage you have to go to the other side of the building to pay for that and return to the check in desk for your boarding pass.According to my source "The new terminal has 104 check-in counters at landside. The terminal is approximately 1km long.
The immigration and security screenings are in the middle of the terminal." There were way more Passport officers on duty than passengers and the Passport area is huge .
The restaurants include TGI, Upper crust, Burger King and many more
Next came plenty of duty free outlets and restaurants ( but not many serving "Breakfast"). The one consistent impressive factor is the smiling friendly underpaid smart Pinoy OFW, everywhere. Whilst the Gulf Air counter may have huge queues the catering outlets were well staffed ( as was the Duty Free) . The service was fast ( but expensive- 5bd or 10 GBP for a baguette and coffee and 2 bd for orange juice - which I declined) and the food was good.
The long walk to the gate, and I was boarding at one of the closest ones!
I have a theory that all airports have as long as possible a distance between the food outlets and the planes so that you loose weight and the new Bahrain airport is no exception ( only beaten by King Hamad in Doha and Dubai) . Maybe its so the golf ( or is it Gulf) buggies carrying the PWD ( People with Determination, a great Emirati phrase) to the gates can really get up some speed and scare the hell out of the walking passengers!
I guess the most amazing change was the last. The Gulf Air plane boarded early, and thanks to some wonderful hostesses with the patience of saints , telling the ladies they had to sit next to the man who would not move as the plane was full, we took off on time, and wait for it, Landed 10 minutes early.
You could tell that rarely happens on Gulf air from the excitement in the First officers voice as he announced it over the tannoy!
So all in all a great experience and I look forward to returning to the new Bahrain International Airport as soon as possible for my final free first class Gulf air flight to Manila. Just as soon as the Philippine embassy issues my visa.
Until then, Kita kits, Ingat Palagi and stay safe
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Hello, I am The British Kabayan! Feel free to read my stories.
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