MANAMA: The number of passengers who travelled through Bahrain International Airport topped 8,102, 106 in 2014, according to Col. Abdulaziz Abdulrahman Al-Dosary, Director BIA Police.
Citing compiled figures for last year, he said that police checked a total of 5,643,595 carry-on bags, in addition to 4,910,134 luggage items. He stressed full compliance with the rules and regulations set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (IACO) for dealing with passengers and handling their luggage to ensure commitment to safety standards, he was quoted saying by the Bahrain News Agency.
Col. Al-Dosary underlined the importance of stepping up police readiness and providing the required qualified human resources, pointing out the ambitious expansion plan which will enable Bahrain International Airport to accommodate up to 13.5 million passengers per annum.
He stressed keenness on providing all services and facilities for passengers using Bahrain’s international hub and easing up impediments which may confront them in line with the regulations incorporated in the Interior Ministry’s security strategy.
Col. Al-Dosary said that his police directorate works in tandem with the Civil Aviation Affairs, Bahrain Airport Company and other concerned authorities to provide the necessary services and ensure the passengers’ safety.
He underlined the directives of Interior Minister Lieutenant-General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa to provide services and ensure highest security standards, commending Public Security Chief Major-General Tariq Hassan Al-Hassan for his follow-up.
“The directorate of police is responsible for securing the whole airport building and facilities and monitoring the security situation through surveillance cameras (CCTV) as part of efforts to ensure passengers’ safety, smoothen the flow of traffic, foil smuggling and detect prohibited items “, he said.