Bahrain International Airshow announces $3.3B of deals on first day as protesters rally nearby

MANAMA, Bahrain – Bahrain’s state news agency says the Bahrain International Airshow opened to announcements of more than $3 billion in deals.

The Gulf kingdom’s international airport signed a nearly $3.2 billion agreement with Chinese company Shenzhen CIMC TianDa for construction of seven new commuter bridges between boarding gates and planes.

Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air says it also signed an agreement Thursday with Rolls-Royce TotalCare to support its fleet of six wide-body twin-engine Airbus A330s.

The three-day airshow runs through Saturday.

However, the country’s political turmoil loomed in the background of the airshow’s flying display as protesters burnt tires, sending billowing plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Shiite protesters have been holding near-daily protests for almost three years demanding greater equality from Bahrain’s Sunni monarchy.

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