Airmaker Gulf: Present, Strategy, and Proposed Schemes for Tomorrow

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, is embarking on an ambitious journey to expand its route network and modernise its fleet. Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East and has a rich history that dates back to 1969 when it began scheduled flights from Bahrain to London.

The airline has a diverse fleet of 42 aircraft, including A320ceos, A321ceos, A320neos, A321neos, A330-200s, Boeing 787-9s, and Boeing 777s. Gulf Air's CEO, Jeffrey Goh, a Singaporean lawyer with extensive international experience, aims to bring the airline into profitability within the next three years.

One of the key areas of focus for Gulf Air is its return to North America, with a nonstop connection between Bahrain and New York high on the agenda. However, the timeline for this expansion remains uncertain. In addition to North America, Gulf Air is examining potential connections to Central and Eastern Europe as well as East Asia, primarily as source markets for Bahrain's tourism sector.

Gulf Air's largest international market is Saudi Arabia, followed by India and the United Arab Emirates. The airline is also seeing significant growth in its connections to the UK, which is its most important market in Europe.

To support its expansion plans, Gulf Air is considering ordering more 787-9 beyond the three Dreamliners still to be delivered. This fleet realignment strategy is aimed at shifting the balance of passengers from 70% in transit to 60%, with a long-term aim of increasing local traffic.

Gulf Air's expansion plans also include new routes to Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, as well as an additional frequency to Munich. The airline is also focusing on optimising existing routes, as demonstrated by its participation in the Routes World conference held in Bahrain in October 2022. This conference brought together airlines, airports, and tourism authorities to plan new routes and optimise existing ones.

Despite the operational issues caused by the Boeing 787-9s, powered by Trent 1000 engines from Rolls-Royce, Gulf Air remains committed to its modern fleet. The airline is currently the only airline offering nonstop flights from Frankfurt and Munich to Bahrain, with a modern fleet and luxurious business class seats.

Gulf Air's expansion plans are not limited to its route network. The airline is also exploring potential partnerships, but remains independent of airline alliances. It currently has codeshare agreements, including one with Egypt Air, a Star Alliance member, but Gulf Air itself is not part of Star Alliance or any other global alliance in 2023.

Gulf Air's ultimate goal is to provide a seamless connection from all over the world to Bahrain, boosting tourism in the country. With its diverse fleet, ambitious expansion plans, and commitment to quality service, Gulf Air is well-positioned to achieve this goal.