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Gulf Air

Aviation

Gulf Air Overview

Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain, was established in 1950 and operates from its hub at Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq.

Owned by Bahrain’s Mumtalakat sovereign wealth fund, Gulf Air serves more than 60 destinations in over 30 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe.

The airline’s fleet consists of long-haul Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, A320neo family aircraft and Airbus A320 and A321 types.

Originally known as Gulf Aviation, it changed its name to Gulf Air to become the flag carrier for Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Oman. Then in 1974 it merged to service just Bahrain.

Gulf Air has an established sponsorship presence, including the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Bahrain International Airshow, and it previously supported sports teams including Chelsea football club.

In recent years, the airline has pursued a “boutique business model” to enhance profitability and has reduced losses significantly since 2015.

Gulf Air continues to expand, with plans to add routes to the US and China. It runs Falcon Gold lounges in Bahrain, Dubai and London Heathrow airports for premium travellers.

Gulf Air News

Hamad International Airport Doha, Qatar

Bahrain identifies offshore plot for new airport

Bahrain is to build a new airport on reclaimed land in the north west of the country. Just three years after the new terminal building of Bahrain International Airport was officially opened, plans are being developed for a new facility following the conclusion of a study looking into possible locations for the greenfield project. “It’s […]

Bahrain International Airport near Manama: British Airways says it is halting flights to Bahrain and Kuwait due to supply chain issues

Bahrain seeks reversal of BA route cut

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 […]

Passengers in Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport. The UAE and Saudi Arabia reported respective air traffic growth of 39 percent and 30 percent

Gulf air traffic rebounds but fares still high

Air traffic in the Middle East and North Africa region has rebounded beyond pre-pandemic levels, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE marking the highest gains in volume. Traffic up to the second quarter of 2024 has also surpassed levels seen before 2020, according to a study by Airports Council International (ACI).  Bahrain (+24 percent), Qatar […]

Gulf airlines, Gulf airlines conflict, Gulf conflict risk, Gulf flights cancelled rerouted

Conflict risk leads Gulf airlines to cancel regional routes

Gulf airlines are among airlines that have cancelled and rerouted flights across the Middle East as the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates. They are avoiding Iranian airspace and many have cancelled routes entirely following a major missile attack by Iran against Israel on Tuesday. Immediately after the attacks about 80 flights operated by carriers […]

Riyadh Air Saudi aviation

Riyadh Air positions Saudi as major player in Gulf aviation

Gulf airlines are bracing for an escalating challenge from Saudi Arabia’s new global carrier Riyadh Air, which is scheduled for take-off in 2025. The highly hyped airline, whose launch was first revealed by the kingdom in March, is targeting 100 destinations in its first five years.  This is a scale of ambition likely to reshape […]