Bahrain Airport Company signs MOU with Artelia Airports Company, at Paris Airshow 2025, to expand ORAT services to regional and international markets

His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain, affirmed the Kingdom’s strong commitment to developing its air traffic system and enhancing operational readiness in line with the highest international standards and best practices in the aviation sector.

His Excellency stated that the Ministry is actively working to establish strategic partnerships with specialized global entities to support Bahrain’s plans to modernize and advance the aviation sector, ensuring its sustainability and improving its overall efficiency.
He added that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Artelia Airports marks a significant step in modernizing the operational infrastructure of Bahrain International Airport (BIA). It reflects the Kingdom’s dedication to adopting smart solutions and modern technologies that ensure the highest levels of safety, efficiency, and fluidity in operational processes. This collaboration also underscores Bahrain’s vision to position itself as a leading regional hub for aviation and logistics.

This important announcement was made on the occasion of the signing of an MoU between Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator and managing body of Bahrain International Airport, and Artelia Airports. The MoU outlines cooperation in the field of Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) and aims to strengthen the consulting capabilities of both parties in the aviation sector. The signing took place during the Paris Air Show 2025, held from June 16 to 22.

The MOU was signed in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications. It was signed by Gulf Air Group (GFG) Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Jeffrey Goh on behalf of BAC and Executive Director of Artelia Airports, Mr. Philippe Martinet.

The MOU aims to develop new business opportunities and cooperate in providing specialized consultancy services in the field of ORAT, by integrating the technical and operational expertise of both parties. It focuses on adopting an integrated approach that ensures early stakeholder engagement, risk identification and management, and enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability, thereby ensuring the airport's full readiness before the commencement of operational activities.

On this occasion, GFG Chairman, Mr. Khalid Hussain Taqi welcomed the signing of the MOU, which comes within GFG's strategy to enhance its international presence as a leading provider of integrated solutions in the aviation sector. He added that cooperation with Artelia represents a model for the strategic partnerships that the Group is committed to employing to enhance the competitiveness of its companies and support the Kingdom of Bahrain as a regional aviation hub. He also stressed that this cooperation reflects the growing confidence in Bahrain Airport Company's operational capabilities and its potential to provide high-value airport services to global markets, noting that this MOU represents a qualitative step within the Group's efforts to diversify its services, support regional infrastructure, and actively contribute to the future development of airport operations globally.

Mr. Jeffrey Goh, GFG Chief Executive Officer, expressed his pride in this cooperation, which comes within the company's vision to expand the provision of consulting services related to Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT). He noted that the partnership with Artelia Airports represents an important intersection between two institutional competencies with extensive experience in airport operation and management at the international level. He added that the MOU will enable the provision of services based on a precise operational approach aimed at improving efficiency levels and enhancing performance reliability, by engaging stakeholders from the early stages, and establishing practical frameworks for identifying and addressing operational risks, ensuring a smooth and safe transition to full operation. He highlighted BIA's experience as a role model in operational readiness and institutional integration, and the company's position as a reliable source of advanced services in the air transport sector.

Mr. Philippe Martinet, Executive Director of Artelia Airports, noted that the agreement reflects the commitment of both parties to support the efficiency of airport operations globally, expressing his pride in this cooperation with Bahrain Airport Company due to its distinguished track record and extensive experience in airport operations. He said that this partnership will contribute to providing high-quality services to Artelia's partners in the aviation sector around the world, with a focus on sustainability, risk management, and achieving the highest levels of operational readiness. Mr. Martinet affirmed that this partnership represents the beginning of a strategic relationship with Bahrain Airport Company aimed at providing world-class operational readiness services to the aviation sector, based on decades of operational experience and technical knowledge, and contributing to establishing new foundations for effective airport preparation, ensuring a smooth transition to the operational phase on time and with the highest degree of efficiency.