Bahrain seeks reversal of BA route cut

Alamy via Reuters

• British Airways to cease flights
• Supply chain issues blamed
• Kuwait also affected

Talks are underway between Bahrain and UK officials in a bid to reverse a decision by British Airways to cease flights to the Gulf state.

The UK’s flag carrier announced earlier this month that it would be stopping direct flights to Bahrain and Kuwait as a result of supply chain pressures, which it is said has left the routes no longer commercially viable.

BA has enjoyed a 92-year relationship with Bahrain and currently operates a daily flight from London Heathrow to its capital Manama. Kuwait is also served by a daily flight from Heathrow.

Mohamed Yousif AlBinfalah, CEO of Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), told AGBI discussions were taking place “at various levels” in a bid to reverse the decision by the British carrier.

“I would say at our level we are doing our utmost best to put together a proposition that will be of value to British Airways and that can moderate, if you like, the position they find themselves in and to continue flying to the Kingdom beyond the announcement they made last week,” he said on Friday at the Bahrain International Airshow.

He added he is “optimistic” the decision will be overturned.

It is understood the problems for BA lie with its Boeing 787 aircraft, which are powered by Rolls Royce’s Trent 1000 engines. The carrier is also looking at its network as a result of capacity constraints.

“I fully understand the pressures that airlines are coming under in terms of supply chain. British Airways are no exception,” said AlBinfalah.

“In fact, even with our national carrier (Gulf Air), the pain is felt as far as supply chain issues, both on the delivery of aircraft as well as some engine challenges.”

BA was approached by AGBI for comment.

• Gulf air traffic rebounds but fares still high
• Boeing 777X delay ‘highly expensive for us’, says Emirates
• Gulf Air is battling for Bahrain’s skies

Bahrain and the UK enjoy strong trade relations. Total trade in goods and services (exports plus imports) between the two countries was £1.1 billion ($1.4 billion) in the four quarters to the end of the second quarter of 2024, a drop of 1.6 percent from the corresponding period last year.

Ali Al Mudaifa, chief of business development at Bahrain Economic Development Board, admitted to being “dismayed” by the BA news. “Hopefully there will be a reconsideration by British Airways,” he said.

BAC currently serves around 70 destinations, 49 by the kingdom’s flag carrier Gulf Air, with around 20 airlines operating from the airport.

Delivery challenges

Supply chain disruption was a hot topic of conversation at Bahrain airshow this week, with aviation bosses all expressing concerns over the impact it is having on the industry.

Samir Majali, vice chairman of the board and CEO of Royal Jordanian, described the situation as “a really terrible disaster”.

“Unfortunately the global manufacturers are experiencing a lot of supply chain issues, Airbus and Boeing in particular, in terms of supplying all the elements that bring an aeroplane together from all over the world and that has caused serious damage in the deliveries of aeroplanes,” he said during a panel discussion.

Aircraft delivery delays have been the bane of existence for Middle East carriers. Emirates airline president Sir Tim Clark is an outspoken critic of US manufacturer Boeing, in particular, and the ongoing delays in its substantial 777X aircraft order.

It was announced last month that the schedule for delivery, initially pencilled in for 2021, was put back by a further year to 2026.

“Obviously it does present us with a serious challenge,” said Adel Al Redha, deputy president and chief operations officer of Emirates airline.

The Dubai-based carrier has invested close to $4 billion in its retrofitting program for 205 aircraft, involving its fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s.

“That’s the price we had to pay for the delay of the aircraft,” said Al Redha.

Supply chain disruptions are not limited to aircraft and engine manufacturers but also include manpower and raw materials.

“If I talk to our sales people, they have very little confidence that they’ll be able to sell that seat in December because there may not be the aircraft to fly the passengers,” said Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Gulf Air Group.