The Bahrain Airport Services Company (BAS) hosted a luncheon on Wednesday, 23rd May 2007, to mark the renewal of its service standard auditing system and to express the Company's thanks to the airlines which participated in the development of this system.

BAS's Chief Executive Officer, Graham Keddie, Business Development General Manager, Riyadh Al-Maskati, and Customer Services General Manager, Tom Nolan, presented awards to 13 airlines. Mr. Keddie expressed his thanks and gratitude to each and every individual for their hard work and dedication, which contributed to the improvement of the quality of service provided by BAS for the airlines and passengers using Bahrain International Airport.

BAS has developed its service standard system within the recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Under the system, BAS employees and the customer airlines participate in setting Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for each flight. The performance is subject to monthly auditing in terms for the umber of flights. A summary of the audit results are shown to the employees and to the airlines concerned to serve as a base for improvement and development of strategies.

IATA is an international organization representing most international airlines, and for the last 36 years, has been setting business standards and applications for the aviation sector.

In April 2002, BAS was awarded by IATA a certificate valid for two years in recognition of the Company's improvement of service standard audit system. BAS is the first ground service provider that has developed an IATA recognized internal system, having been subjected to detailed auditing for several years.

Some of the airlines utilizing Bahrain International Airport Services have expressed interest in participating in this programme.

Mr. Keddie has extended special thanks to His Excellency Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, for His Excellency's support and encouragement of this project, which has been designed at His Highness's guidance with the aim of achieving the highest standards of service at Bahrain Airport Services.