The Air Transport Directorate is responsible for all bilateral/multilateral agreements, permissions for airline operations, the carriage of dangerous goods by air, airline schedule approvals, travel/cargo agency affairs and international affairs (compliance with ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices).

In addition the Directorate also perform the following duties.

• Drafts up and implements air transport policies and regulations to continue the development of the air transport industry in line with the national economic plan of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
• Develops appropriate rules and regulations in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices.
• Promotes civil aviation interests of the Kingdom of Bahrain through representation and participation in GCC, Arab League, Regional ICAO and other related organisations in the international civil aviation arena.
• Monitors and make recommendations to various Ministries on all aspects of air transport enterprises based in or proposing to the established in Bahrain and undertakes economic studies of the air transport sector.
• Evaluates, prepares, negotiates and administers air services agreements, exchanges of traffic rights, and other operating permissions in co-ordination with the requirements of the National Carriers and the best interests of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
  

The Air Transport Directorate is divided into the following sections:-

• Flight Schedules & Studies.
• Flight Permissions.
• International Aviation Relations.
• Cargo Agency & Travel Affairs.
• Air Transport Services and Agreements.