BizBahrain May-June 2017

Other Business
APM Terminals Bahrain
initiates Digitization
BAC, Chinese officials
discuss Business
opportunities
Gulf Air selects Recaro to
supply Economy class seats
APM Terminals Bahrain, the operator
of Khalifa Bin Salman Port (KBSP), is
embarking on digital transformation of the
port with a new General Cargo Terminal
Operating System (GC-TOS) to optimize
operational efficiency and customer
experience. The new system, which
will initially focus on digitizing KBSP’s
maritime services followed by General
Cargo and Billing, will be key to driving
greater transparency and turnaround
times, resulting in faster and efficient
cargo flow at the Kingdom’s world-class
commercial port.
The implementation of the GS TOS
is a critical first step by APM Terminals
towards digital transformation to improve
the management data between the port,
cargo owners, shipping lines and other
stakeholders. With this, the planning
capabilities of the port will get enhanced
through a centralized information portal
including cargo booking and movement,
documentation, pre-arrival notifications
to name a few. This will further facilitate
immediate improvements in terminal
productivity and customer service.
According to Mark Hardiman,
CEO/Managing Director of APM
Terminals Bahrain, “The rapidly
changing maritime landscape calls
for continuous investments and
transformations in port operations and
logistical solutions, to satisfy customer
requirements and growing general cargo
volumes. Integrating digital solutions
into our transshipment operations
will help catalyze the collaboration
and coordination among the many
stakeholders and help us to manage
activities at the quay, yard and gate.”
“Most importantly, it will maximize
efficiencies for the entire supply chain
providing stakeholders real-time data
and insights, transparency and reliability;
creating business value for them.
Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), held
a series of meetings with its Chinese
counterparts and targeted airlines in
China to present business opportunities
and explore the possibilities of furthering
cooperation between the two countries in
the field of aviation.
BAC Chief Commercial Officer, Ayman
Zainal, and Head of Route Development,
Nawal Al Majed, represented BAC at the
meetings, which were also attended by
Bahrain EDB representatives.
Ayman Zainal said, “Bahrain enjoys
a strategic location with access to the
lucrative Saudi Arabian market, which is
the largest market in the GCC region, and
our airport has positional advantages that
could be leveraged to tap into the Saudi
market. We offer key advantages for
Chinese airlines, such as easy and liberal
visa policies that give 67 countries visas
upon arrival, and 114 countries access to
e-visas. This makes us prime candidates
for working with Chinese airline markets.
We hope these meetings will produce
more cooperated efforts between the two
countries in the near future.”
The meetings come as part of a
broader initiative to elevate aviation and
tourism in the Kingdom, with more than
$30 billion in investment expected for
infrastructure development. The number
of Chinese arrivals at BIA has also been
steadily increasing in recent years,
rising by more than 60%, from 22,682
passengers in 2014 to 36,478 in 2016.
Bahrain has traditionally had strong
economic ties with China, with the
two countries signing a bilateral trade
agreement in 2000. Currently, nearly 960
Non-Resident Chinese employees and
investors are registered in Bahrain, with
44% working in real estate, renting, and
business activities, and 38% in wholesale
and retail.
G
ulf Air has appointed German
aircraft manufacturer Recaro
Aircraft Seating to supply Recaro CL3710
economy class aircraft seats for the
airline’s 10 new Boeing 787-9 aircraft
and 29 Airbus 320/321neo aircraft. The
contract, which is valued at over 35
million euros, was signed at this year’s
Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg.
“Gulf Air guests rightly expect an
exceptional level of service and quality
on board our aircraft - and as we expand
and modernise our fleet, Recaro’s
economy class seats fit perfectly into
our new cabin concept, guaranteeing
a pleasant travel experience for our
passengers and standardising our
product across our short and longhaul
fleet,” said Mr. Maher Salman Al
Musallam, Gulf Air Chief Executive
Officer.
Since 2009, Gulf Air has deployed
Recaro seats on the airline’s short-haul
routes in both economy and business /
Falcon Gold class. Gulf Air’s incoming
fleet is composed of Boeing 787-9
Dreamliners, Airbus A321neo and Airbus
A320neo aircraft, and the airline is
committed to ongoing investment in its
product and service offering. Reliability,
design and comfort played an important
role in Gulf Air once again opting for
Recaro as seat supplier.
The CL3710 stands for quality,
exceptional design and comfort on longhaul
flights. The multi-award-winning
“made by Recaro” economy class
seat uniquely features a flexible and
individually adjustable headrest, stateof-the-art
IFE systems and extra legroom
for passengers. Its modular lightweight
construction also offers a great variety
of options to aircraft manufacturers and
airlines.
May-June 2017
87