Bahrain Air will suspend one of its Middle East destinations because it is not cost-effective.

Ibrahim Al-Hamer, the airline’s managing director, declined to name the route that will be suspended until the relevant authorities have been informed.

“We are tightening our hold to make sure we are more cost-effective in terms of services and the returns we expect (to) sustain in the long term,” says Al-Hamer.

Bahrain Air achieved a year-on-year increase in revenues at the end of 2009 of $105m. In 2008, the carrier recorded revenues of $80m and has ambitions to achieve 2010 revenues of $140m, according to Al-Hamer.

He also says that the airline will also introduce new routes this year to target markets such as Africa, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Bahrain Air will begin daily flights to Dhaka in Bangladesh on 16 March and flights to Chittagong starting on 21 March this year.

The carrier also has plans to introduce services to Pakistan later this year.

The airline currently flies to 21 destinations.