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Bahrain International Airport first in the world to achieve IATA Environmental Assessment Certification

SDGs Bahrain News
Bahrain International Airport first in the world to achieve IATA Environmental Assessment Certification
14/11/2024

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator andmanaging body of Bahrain International Airport (BIA), announced that BIA hasbecome the world's first airport to attain the coveted International AirTransport Association (IATA) Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Certification.This groundbreaking achievement highlights BIA's innovative approach toenvironmental sustainability and responsible operations.

 

Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africaand the Middle East (AME), handed the certification to Mohamed YousifAlBinfalah, Bahrain Airport Company Chief Executive Office, at the GFG pavilionduring the second day of the Bahrain International Airshow, which took place atSakhir Air Base from November 13-15 under the patronage of His Majesty KingHamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The handover ceremony was attended by representativesfrom BAC's health and safety department.

 

The IEnvA programme, established by IATA over a decade ago,has been instrumental in enhancing the environmental performance of airlines,aligning with the ISO 14001 standard. In July 2022, IATA expanded the programmeto encompass airports and ground handling companies, recognising the crucialrole these stakeholders play in minimising the aviation industry’senvironmental footprint.

 

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator of BIA, enrolledin the IEnvA programme in February 2023. The rigorous certification processinvolved five stages, including comprehensive gap analyses and on siteassessments conducted by IATA experts. BIA successfully demonstrated itsadherence to stringent environmental management standards and its dedication tocontinuous improvement.

 

Mohamed Yousif AlBinfalah, Bahrain Airport Company ChiefExecutive Officer, said “Achieving the world's first IEnvA airportcertification is a remarkable milestone, reflecting BAC's strategic dedicationto minimising the airport environmental footprint. This achievement is a directresult of the hard work and dedication of the entire airport community, whohave embraced our strategic objective. By minimising our environmental impact,we not only enhance our own performance but also contribute to a moresustainable future for the entire aviation industry.”

 

Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice President for Africaand the Middle East (AME), commended BIA’s accomplishment, “I would like toextend my most sincere congratulations to Bahrain Airport for being the firstairport to achieve full IEnvA Certification. This is a remarkable achievementthat reflects their unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability andresponsible business practices through robust environmental management planswith continual performance improvements. I commend the efforts of everyoneinvolved and wish Bahrain Airport continued success in improving theirsustainability performance.”

 

This certification cements BAC's commitment to a sustainablefuture for aviation, setting a new industry standard for environmentalperformance and responsible operations worldwide.