Maintenance

Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air has signed a deal with the Bahrain Real Estate Company (Edamah) to build a new hangar at Bahrain International Airport as it eyes establishing a major maintenance facility for the region.

Construction will begin next year and, once completed, the facility will have capacity to accommodate three widebody aircraft. The facility is slated for completion in 2011.

Gulf Air CEO Bjorn Naf says the development will make Bahrain a key aircraft maintenance hub in the region. "This world-class maintenance facility will enable Gulf Air to continue maintaining the highest safety standards as well as keep our existing and future fleet in the best condition possible," he says.

Gulf Air until last year held a 40% stake in Abu Dhabi-based maintenance firm Gamco, which was renamed Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies after investment firm Mubadala acquired full control of the company last year.