All the passengers of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines were welcomed and bid farewell with flowers yesterday (November 4), at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) as part of the airline's 40th anniversary celebrations.

KLM launched its scheduled flights to Bahrain on the same day in 1973 and has linked Bahrain to Europe and the rest of the world, said a statement from the Dutch airline.  

Today, KLM operates daily flights from Bahrain International Airport (BIA) connecting passengers to Amsterdam and into the airline’s extensive global network. The airline serves Bahrain with commercial, station, and cargo services; and has a team of around 9 staff members based in Manama, it stated.

Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) joined KLM for the celebrations held at the airport. This was in addition to a private VIP Gala Dinner at the Regency Intercontinental Hotel held earlier in October.

BAC said it was committed towards working hand-in-hand with its partners, the airline companies, to provide exceptional travel experience and enhance Bahrain International Airport as a world-class airport.

"The culmination of these efforts resulted to the win of various internationally-renowned awards, most recently the Skytrax Award 2013 for the Middle East’s best airport staff. It has also received different nominations that ranked BIA in the Skytrax world’s top 100 airports," it added.-TradeArabia News Service