Tag Archives: Gulf Air

Gulf Air announced its expansion in North America with the launch of its direct flights to New York (JFK) from 1st October 2025. This new service establishes a new and additional connection to a key global commercial and cultural hub. Gulf Air will operate three weekly flights to New York (JFK). These flights will be operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Gulf Air will initially operate its flights from the current Terminal One at JFK. The airline intends to transition its operations to JFK’s New Terminal One in June 2026, offering passengers seamless and modern travel experience aligned with Gulf Air’s premium service standards. Gulf Air Group Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Goh stated: “We are excited to announce the launch of our direct flights to New York’s JFK and our return to the North American market. This service aligns with Gulf Air’s strategy of calibrated expansion and serving strategic markets, providing passengers with greater choice and convenience for travel, through Bahrain International Airport, between Bahrain and North America, and beyond, supporting the connectivity strategy of the Kingdom.” Passengers can book their flights to/from New York and stay updated on flight timings by downloading the Gulf Air mobile application, visiting Gulf Air’s website gulfair.com or through travel agents.

Boeing and Gulf Air have announced an agreement for the purchase of 12 787 Dreamliner jets with options for six more as the Bahrain-based airline looks to further develop its international network. Once finalized, this order will bring the carrier’s firm order book to 14 of the versatile widebody jets and will support 30,000 jobs across the U.S. Bahrain Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joined Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope and Gulf Air Group Chairman Khalid Taqi to witness the signing. “This agreement marks a transformative step in Gulf Air’s strategic growth journey as we expand our global footprint and modernize our fleet with one of the industry’s most advanced and efficient aircraft,” said Khalid Taqi, chairman of Gulf Air Group. “The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has proven to be an exceptional aircraft for our long-haul operations, and this new order reflects our confidence in its performance, passenger appeal and contribution to our sustainability goals. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Boeing and reaffirm our commitment to positioning Bahrain as a key global aviation hub.” The 787 Dreamliner, recognized for its fuel efficiency, range and passenger experience, already serves as the backbone of Gulf Air’s long-haul operations connecting over 50 destinations. With 10 787 airplanes in service, the airline is well-positioned to grow its network, serving new and existing markets across Asia, Europe and the U.S. “We are excited to build on our more than 60-year partnership with Gulf Air as we deliver the market-leading 787 Dreamliner to help the airline serve more passengers and connect more destinations,” said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO …

Gulf Air and CFM International have extended the airline’s long-term CFM LEAP-1A Services for A320neo family aircraft. This strategic extension, along with the purchase of additional spare engines, forms a strong and reliable foundation for comprehensive engine support, enhancing fleet reliability and operational continuity. Being the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air operates one of the region’s most modern and efficient fleets, which includes 29 LEAP-1A-powered A320neo family aircraft, continued collaboration with CFM is key to operational excellence; and a renewed affirmation of CFM’s support and technical expertise. “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with CFM, who have been a key partner of our growth since our first CFM engine operations in the 1990s”, said Dr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group. “This agreement will enable us to secure MRO capacity for our fleet and maintain our growth.” “It’s an honor to further expand our relationship with Gulf Air, a long-standing member of the CFM family”, said Gaël Meheust, President and CEO of CFM International. “This agreement commits us to provide Gulf Air with the best CFM standards in terms of support, reliability, and utilization for its LEAP fleet.”

Gulf Air announced the launch of seasonal flights for Summer to Nice, France, starting on 22 May and operating throughout the summer until 28 September; and to Geneva, Switzerland, starting on 03 June to 12 September. The airline will operate two weekly flights from Bahrain to both Nice and Geneva via Milan. These routes will be served by Gulf Air’s state-of-the-art Airbus A321neo aircraft, offering passengers superior travel experience, with a modern and spacious cabin, comfortable seating, and advanced in-flight entertainment systems. Renowned for its natural attractions and luxurious lifestyle, summer 2025 marks the comeback on Nice for the fourth consecutive year as a Gulf Air seasonal destination, while the airline will build on the success of its Geneva route in summer 2024 by bringing this favorite financial and leisure hub back to Gulf Air network for the second consecutive summer. The flights from Bahrain via Milan to Nice will depart on Thursday and Sunday at 01:40 am, and from Nice via Milan to Bahrain at 09:50 am, while flights from Bahrain via Milan to Geneva will operate on Tuesday and Friday at 01:40 am, and from Geneva via Milan to Bahrain at 09:40 am. The launch of these seasonal flights reflects Gulf Air’s strategic expansion plans within the European market, focusing on key leisure and business destinations. Additional destinations to the Gulf Air network will be announced in the coming months.

Gulf Air has entered into a strategic partnership with Almatar to enhance digital operations between the two entities. As part of the partnership, Gulf Air will integrate its New Distribution Capability (NDC) API with Almatar’s booking platform, enabling Almatar to offer Gulf Air’s products and services, such as seat selection, additional baggage options, refunds, and reissue services. This will provide travelers with a more advanced, flexible, and seamless booking experience. This partnership shows both companies are committed to improve the customer experience and meeting the evolving needs of travelers in a rapidly growing travel and tourism sector. The partnership marks a key milestone in the digital transformation journeys of both Gulf Air and Almatar. It makes Almatar the first OTA company in Saudi Arabia to collaborate with Gulf Air, setting a new industry standard. Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Jeffrey Goh, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air Group, said: “We are excited about this partnership that opens new digital distribution avenues for Gulf Air products. The integration of the NDC system with Almatar’s platform will enhance operational efficiency and improve the way the airline delivers exceptional services to our customers. Gulf Air is dedicated to adopting modern technology to offer flexible and user-friendly travel solutions, solidifying our competitive edge in regional and global markets.” Mr. Goh added that this partnership is a part of Gulf Air’s broader vision of achieving full digital transformation, improving the overall travel experience, and delivering innovative services that meet the expectations of modern travelers. The NDC integration will ensure easier and more transparent access to Gulf Air’s extensive range of services and products. Mr. Youssef Abdullah Al Rajhi, Chairman of Almatar, expressed pride in this partnership, …

Gulf Air to train 70 Bahrainis in the aviation sector with Tamkeen. Gulf Air signed two agreements with Labour Fund (Tamkeen) aimed at supporting the training of Bahrainis as pilots and aviation engineers. This comes as a continuation of the ongoing collaboration between the two organizations over the past years, with the goal of strengthening national capabilities in aviation by providing specialized training and creating promising and sustainable job opportunities. The support includes training 50 Bahrainis as second officers and 24 Bahrainis in aviation engineering, both specialized fields requiring a high level of technical expertise and creating high-quality jobs in the aviation sector. This comes as a continuation of Tamkeen’s training support to 110 pilots at the company. Commenting on this initiative, Her Excellency Ms. Maha Abdulhameed Mofeez, Chief Executive of Tamkeen, emphasized Tamkeen’s commitment to supporting Bahraini talent to excel in various sectors and specialties, with the goal of making Bahrainis the preferred choice for employment. She stated: “We take pride in this partnership with Gulf Air Group and the promising opportunities it provides for Bahrainis in the aviation sector, which offers high-income jobs and diverse growth and development opportunities both locally and internationally. This partnership aligns with our ongoing efforts on providing training opportunities that refine national talent according to the highest global standards, preparing Bahrainis to enter and succeed in the aviation sector, which is a vital and important industry in the Kingdom.” Tamkeen’s support for the private sector in Bahrain is aligned with its 2024 strategic priorities focused on economic impact and the private sector under three pillars: increasing economic participation through employment opportunities for new market entrants, expanding career development opportunities available to the Bahraini workforce, and …

Gulf Air’s Chief Operations Officer, Captain Qasim Ismaeel, met with Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture in Malaysia. During the meeting, the two sides discussed aviation and tourism cooperation, strengthened the ties between Malaysia and Gulf Air, and explored new avenues for collaboration in these sectors. They also identified strategies to boost passenger traffic between the two countries. The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture of Malaysia, along with his accompanying delegation, then took a tour at Gulf Aviation Academy, the training arm of Gulf Air. During the tour, the visiting delegation was briefed on the latest flight simulators housed at the academy.

The long-established national airline of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Gulf Air will run flights from Bahrain to Munich four times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – on a modern Airbus A321neo. Landing in Munich is at 6:35 a.m., while the take-off time for Bahrain is 12:20 p.m. As a vacation destination or as a stopover on a long-distance trip, the island state of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf offers a mixture of tradition and modernity. The island state also has a direct road link via the King Fahd Causeway, a 25-km long bridge that connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia. For onward travelers, the international hub boasts a variety of connections to fascinating destinations, including India, Singapore, Thailand, the Maldives, and China. The new connection to Bahrain expands the wide range of flights between Munich and the Gulf States, which is also hugely important to tourism in Bavaria. In 2023, the state capital alone recorded around 400,000 overnight stays by guests from this region, up five percent on the previous year. With a water baptism, a traditional ribbon-cutting, and gingerbread hearts, Munich Airport welcomed the Bahrain-based airline Gulf Air, which will be flying regularly to the Bavarian aviation hub from now on.

Gulf Air has launched its newest seasonal flights to Rhodes, Greece. The airline’s flight to Rhodes was welcomed with a ceremonial water salute and a host of celebratory activities upon its arrival at Rhodes Airport. The airline will operate two weekly flights from Bahrain International Airport (BIA) to Rhodes Airport (RHO) from June 1st to September 28th, on Airbus 320neo aircraft. This new route enhances Gulf Air’s connectivity and provides passengers with more flexibility in their summer travel plans. Flight no. Frequency Departure Airport Departure Time Arrival Airport Arrival Time GF 0050 Thu & Sat BAH 09:40 JMK 13:55 GF 0050 Thu & Sat JMK 14:55 RHO 15:45 GF 0051 Thu & Sat RHO 16:45 BAH 20:25 **All times are local Commenting on the new seasonal destination, a Gulf Air spokesperson said, “We are pleased to add Rhodes to Gulf Air’s dynamic network, increasing the connectivity between Bahrain and Greece to three destinations: Athens as a scheduled destination and Mykonos as a seasonal destination, and now celebrating the inaugural flight to Rhodes. This new route is an integral part of Gulf Air’s strategic commitment to enhance its European network, offering passengers a wider choice of leisure destinations in Europe like Rhodes.” This move further aligns with Gulf Air’s commitment to high-quality passenger travel experiences and enhanced services operating from Bahrain International Airport, connecting to over 60 destinations. Gulf Air passengers can stay updated on flight timings by downloading the Gulf Air mobile application or by visiting Gulf Air’s website gulfair.com.

Emirates and Gulf Air signed a unilateral codeshare partnership, starting this December*. The new agreement will offer easy connections and expanded choices for Gulf Air customers connecting to Dubai and onwards to a host of Emirates destinations across Europe, Africa, South America and the Far East. The agreement was signed on the first day of the Bahrain Airshow, signalling a growing relationship between both airlines following on the framework of cooperation established last year.  The agreement was signed by Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline and Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed Al Alawi in the presence of H.E. Mr. Zayed R. Alzayani, Gulf Air’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. The signing ceremony was also attended by members of each airline’s executive management teams. The expanded partnership will see Gulf Air place their marketing code “GF” on Emirates operated flights beyond Dubai to a selection of some of the most attractive global tourism hotspots, offering new holiday options for Gulf Air customers. Travellers will be able to connect to points including Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Algeria, Tunis, Bali, Hanoi, HoChi Minh City, Taipei and Sao Paulo. The new codeshare agreement’s mix of unique points comes as travellers from the GCC have become more well-informed, value-driven and savvy, increasingly looking for new, diverse experiences and attractions beyond their traditional holiday destinations. The new partnership will also offer customers the convenience of combined ticketing and check-in, a unified policy and seamless transfers for baggage, and competitive single fares on a multi-airline journey when connecting on Emirates. Customers can book their travel on Gulf Air’s website, through Gulf Air point of sales and online travel agencies as well as with local travel …