Gulf Air will soon begin interior fittings for its new BD300,000 ($795,000) passenger lounge in Bahrain International Airport's departures area.

It will be the largest in the airline's network of private passenger lounges, which caters to first and business class passengers, as well as to frequent flyer club card holders.

The new lounge will be located in the old coffee shop site on the eastern end of the departure area's second floor, beyond the old Bahrain Duty Free location.

The 880-sq-m area will be double the size of the current lounge, which is located on the departure area's first floor, just across from Gate 14.

Gulf Air head of ground services Peter Cross said the design work would be done by a Bahrain-based company and that the fit-out tender would likely be awarded shortly.

"We're anticipating its opening in October in conjunction with our new route re-structuring plan, which will make Bahrain International Airport Gulf Air's regional hub," he said.

The 150-seat passenger lounge will have a range of facilities, for business and leisure travellers.

There will be two small business lounges, one with meeting facilities, as well as a business centre Internet room.