Bahrain International Airport becomes first in the world to achieve IEnvA Environmental Certification

Credit: Bahrain International Airport

Bahrain International Airport (BIA), operated by Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), has become the world’s first airport to receive the IATA Environmental Assessment (IEnvA) Certification. The achievement, recognising BIA’s commitment to sustainability, was marked by a handover ceremony at the Bahrain International Airshow. IATA’s Kamil Alawadhi presented the certification to BAC CEO Mohamed Yousif AlBinfalah

Bahrain Airport Company Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Yousif AlBinfalah stated, “Achieving the world’s first IEnvA airport certification is a remarkable milestone, reflecting BAC’s strategic dedication to minimising the airport environmental footprint. This achievement is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of the entire airport community, who have embraced our strategic objective. By minimising our environmental impact, we not only enhance our own performance but also contribute to a more sustainable future for the entire aviation industry.”

Details of the IEnvA Environmental Certification

The IEnvA program, 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 program to encompass airports and ground handling companies, recognising the crucial role these stakeholders play in minimising the aviation industry’s environmental footprint.

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the operator of BIA, enrolled in the IEnvA program in February 2023. The rigorous certification process involved five stages, including comprehensive gap analyses and on-site assessments conducted by IATA experts. BIA successfully demonstrated its adherence to stringent environmental management standards and its dedication to continuous improvement.

Mr. Kamil Alawadhi, IATA’s Regional Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East (AME), commended BIA’s accomplishment, “I would like to extend my most sincere congratulations to Bahrain Airport for being the first airport to achieve full IEnvA Certification. This is a remarkable achievement that reflects their unwavering dedication to environmental sustainability and responsible business practices through robust environmental management plans with continual performance improvements. I commend the efforts of everyone involved and wish Bahrain Airport continued success in improving their sustainability performance.”

This certification cements BAC’s commitment to a sustainable future for aviation, setting a new industry standard for environmental performance and responsible operations worldwide.