Category Archives: Gulf Air

Etihad Airways and Gulf Air sign codeshare agreement, strengthening ties between the carriers

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and Gulf Air, the national airline of the Kingdom of Bahrain, have signed a codeshare partnership, for travel commencing with the summer schedule.

Codeshare operations to begin with the summer schedule between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and onwards from both hubs
Etihad will place its ‘EY’ code on 12 Gulf Air routes across the Gulf region, North Africa, Europe and key destinations in Pakistan
Gulf Air will place its ‘GF’ code on 10 Etihad routes including destinations in Africa, Australia, Indonesia and the USA

The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two carriers at the Bahrain International Airshow in November last year and will further strengthen the strong ties between the two countries and carriers.

The agreement will see Etihad place its ‘EY’ code on Gulf Air flights from Bahrain to and from Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Casablanca, Dhaka, Faisalabad, Larnaca, Malaga, Multan, Najaf, Peshawar, Sailkot and Tbilisi.

Gulf Air will place its ‘GF’ code on Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi to and from Bahrain, Brisbane, Chicago O’Hare, Jakarta, Lagos, Los Angeles, Melbourne, New York JFK, Sydney and Washington.

Guests who are travelling to the USA with Etihad will be able to enjoy the preclearance facility offered at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Terminal 3 in Abu Dhabi Airport is a purpose-built facility that allows US bound passengers to process all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections in Abu Dhabi before they depart. On arrival in the US, guests arrive as domestic passengers, speeding up the arrival process and making onward connections more seamless.

The announcement was made at a signing ceremony held at Etihad Airways Headquarters in Abu Dhabi, attended by Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, and Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air.

In addition to the codeshare signing, both Etihad Guest and Gulf Air Falconflyer loyalty programs are exploring ways to offer earn and burn opportunities.

Gulf Air currently operates four return daily flights between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi while Etihad currently operates three return daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Below Copyright Photo: Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A6-BLN (msn 39659) PAE (Nick Dean). Image: 938115.

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

Below Copyright Photo: Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A9C-FB (msn 39997) LHR (Wingnut). Image: 945083.

Gulf Air and Etihad Airways explore a closer relationship

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, are set to explore deeper cooperation following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Bahrain International Airshow.

MOU scope includes provision for:

Joint codeshare operations as preferred partners between and beyond hubs
Development of commercial agreements to enhance guest experience
Coordinated Engineering and Cargo services in Abu Dhabi and Manama
Plans to offer reciprocal ‘earn and burn’ on frequent flyer programs

The wide-ranging MOU covers scope to introduce joint codeshare operations between Abu Dhabi and Manama, as well as on the global flight networks beyond the two carriers’ GCC hubs.

The MOU also contains plans for greater commercial cooperation in the fields of cargo, engineering, guest experience and the optimisation of pilot training facilities.

In addition to exploring codeshare operations, the teams at Etihad Guest and Gulf Air Falconflyer loyalty programs will shortly begin discussions which would see members of each programme being offered reciprocal earn and burn opportunities.

The teams in both carriers’ engineering and cargo divisions are also set to begin talks about greater cooperation. These discussions would look at optimising MRO (maintenance repair operations) opportunities, as well as ways to increase volumes of freighter traffic flowing into and out of Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Gulf Air currently operates four return daily flights between Bahrain and Abu Dhabi while Etihad currently operates three return daily A320 operations between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline): Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A9C-FA (msn 39996) LHR (Wingnut). Image: 944463.

Gulf Air takes delivery of its first Airbus A320neo

Gulf Air on August 18, 2018, took delivery of its first Airbus A320neo (A9C-TA, msn 8323).

The airline released photos of its new updated cabin for the new engine option.

Gulf Air also issued this statement and photo:

Gulf Air, the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, took delivery of its first A320neo. The aircraft, powered by CFM LEAP-1A engines, made its maiden journey from Toulouse to Bahrain, landing at the Bahrain International Airport at 16:00 local time.

The aircraft is the first of the 29 A320neo Family aircraft ordered during the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow. This delivery also makes Gulf Air the first Middle Eastern national carrier to fly the A320neo.

Gulf Air currently operates 28 Airbus aircraft. The new addition complements the airline’s existing fleet and thanks to Airbus’ overall fleet commonality, the airline will benefit from low operating costs, optimum fuel efficiency and seamless, best-in-class passenger comfort of any single aisle aircraft.

Featuring the widest single aisle cabin in the sky, the A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver at least 15 percent fuel savings at delivery and 20 percent by 2020. With more than 6,100 orders received from over 100 customers, the A320neo Family has captured nearly 60 percent share of the market.

Top Copyright Photo: Photo before the engines were added: Gulf Air Airbus A320-251N F-WWBB (A9C-TA) (msn 8323) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 942587.

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

Video:

Video: Gulf Air Boeing 787 Interior Design

Gulf Air’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner passengers will experience many improvements with the 787 family. Onboard, you can enjoy the largest windows of any jet, air that is cleaner, more humid and at a higher pressure for greater comfort, large overhead bins with room for everyone’s bag, soothing LED lighting and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride.

Boeing delivers the first 787 Dreamliner to Gulf Air

Gulf Air and Boeing today celebrated the delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner for the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The airplane also debuts the carrier’s new livery.

Gulf Air is set to take delivery of four more Dreamliners this year. The airline plans to introduce the 787 on its twice-daily service between Bahrain and London Heathrow before deploying the long-range efficient jet on other routes.

Boeing has delivered more than 670 787s since deliveries began in 2011. The 787 fleet has flown more than 240 million passengers while saving over 23 billion pounds of fuel and enabling airlines to open more than 180 new nonstop routes around the world.

The first Gulf Air 787 – painted in the airline’s new livery – recently flew a special mission to the airline’s home base to perform a fly pass over the 2018 Bahrain Grand Prix. Formula 1 race fans were treated to a dramatic aerial display prior to the start of the championship race.

Top Copyright Photo (the other image by Boeing): Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A9C-FA (msn 39996) PAE (Royal S. King). Image: 941700.

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

Gulf Air officially unveils its new livery

Gulf Air officially on April 5 unveiled its new livery, which will appear on the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner A9C-FA (msn 39996).

The new livery also includes an update falcon logo.

Images Gulf Air.

Video:

A first glimpse of the first Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

Gulf Air is expecting its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft which will be delivered in April 2018.

The new type will operate the airline’s long haul routes, gradually replacing its Airbus A330s.

A total of 5 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will enter Gulf Air’s fleet by the end of 2018 with an additional 2 aircraft arriving by end of 2019 and 3 arriving by end of 2020.

Gulf Air’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will offer 282 seats in a two-class configuration, with 26 Falcon Gold Class seats and 256 Economy Class seats.

The 787 will enter service on the Bahrain – London (Heathrow) route on June 15.

Gulf Air has promised a new livery with the first 787. With the pictured 787 we get a glimpse of the new livery with a re-stylized falcon logo on the tail. The rest of the livery is likely to be unveiled at an official event and will be different from this earlier concept drawing (below).

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

Gulf Air unveils its strategy and plans for 2018 and beyond, new livery coming

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, hosted an event gathering key government officials, dignitaries, trade and corporate partners, Falconflyer members, the airline’s workforce and media outlets from across the Kingdom. At the event, H.E. Mr. Zayed Bin Rashid Alzayani, Chairman of Gulf Air’s Board of Directors welcomed attendees and introduced Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr. Krešimir Kučko. Mr. Kučko rolled out the airline’s new corporate strategy, 2018 network expansion plans to 8 new routes, details surrounding Gulf Air’s incoming fleet and new, best in class products and services among other positive developments.

Photo Above: Gulf Air.

Gulf Air recently carried out a strategic 360 degree assessment of its business. This included looking into how the airline can best nurture and develop its network, fleet, product, workforce, customers and much more. At the event, Mr. Kučko unveiled the airline’s new corporate strategy for 2018 and beyond, outlining its key pillars. They are: Safety, Network Growth, Innovation, Human Resources, Customer Focus, Revenue Vs Cost and most significantly the national carrier’s role as a contributor and key driver of the local economy as it promotes the Kingdom of Bahrain globally and operates as its ambassador worldwide.

In the coming months, Gulf Air’s highly anticipated incoming fleet of 39 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft will commence delivery. A total of 7 new aircraft, 5 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 2 Airbus A320neo aircraft, will enter the airline’s fleet before the end of the year.

With this development, major positive change is on the horizon. Gulf Air’s new fleet will be outfitted with superior on-board products and services (some of the best in class: seats, Inflight Entertainment and much more). With aspirations to be best in class across both its wide and narrow body fleet, Gulf Air’s new business class offering will compete with the first class standard of other airlines while its economy class product will afford enhanced onboard comfort.

The airline plans major network expansion coinciding with its new aircraft deliveries. Gulf Air will add eight new destinations to its network this year. In India, its current operations to Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Trivandrum and Hyderabad, will be enhanced by flights to Bangalore and Calicut. Gulf Air will also commence flights to the Saudi Arabian cities of Abha and Tubuk. This will expand its Saudi Arabia operations to complement its current service to Dammam, Riyadh, Madina Al Munawarah, Jeddah and Gassim. Gulf Air’s Cairo operations will be supplemented by direct flights to Alexandria and flights to Sharm El Shaikh. The airline will also launch operations to Baku in Azerbaijan and to Casablanca in Morocco.

Alongside this, frequency changes to key routes in 2018 will enhance Gulf Air’s offering of seamless movement to and from the Kingdom of Bahrain – and across its network. Gulf Air will increase its flights during the peak summer period by 200 more weekly flights compared to 2017.

Mr. Kučko also spoke of upcoming plans to rollout a new brand identity very soon. The new look and feel for Gulf Air will, alongside its new fleet, new network, new products and services, represent the “Gulf Air of tomorrow”.

Shedding light on the national carrier’s more long term development he elaborated that the airline’s planned strategic growth in the years 2019-2023 will see it strengthening its regional base and then supplementing that with an expanded network that will reach various points across the globe. This includes: Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and, ultimately, North America. By 2023 Gulf Air’s reach will have expanded to over 60 destinations.

Top Copyright Photo: The Airbus A330-200s will be gradually replaced with the new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and will not be repainted. Gulf Air Airbus A330-243 A9C-KC (msn 286) (Grand Prix 2015) LHR (SPA). Image: 934749.

Gulf Air aircraft slide show:

DAE leases five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to Gulf Air

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd has announced its leasing division, DAE Capital, and Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier, have signed an aircraft lease agreement for five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that are scheduled to enter the Gulf carrier’s fleet in 2018. These modern, fuel efficient planes will help Gulf Air expand its network, facilitating the long-term expansion of the airline’s future network requirement.

Gulf Air is expecting its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to be delivered in April 2018 and will operate the airline’s long haul routes, gradually replacing its Airbus A330-200s. A total of 5 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will have entered Gulf Air’s fleet by end-2018 with an additional 2 aircraft arriving by end of 2019 and 3 arriving by end of 2020.

Image: Gulf Air.

Gulf Air increases the number of flights to Frankfurt, Larnaca and Paris

Gulf Air (Bahrain) will increase the number of flights to and from Frankfurt, Larnaca and Paris (CDG) during the upcoming peak summer travel period until September 2015, due to growing passenger numbers.

This follows the airline’s recent announcement of its enhanced Istanbul summer schedule which now offers seven weekly flights during the summer period.

Gulf Air will operate eight weekly flights from Bahrain to both Frankfurt and Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport) and six weekly flights to Larnaca.

Gulf Air’s European summer schedule further supplements the airline’s existing four weekly Athens service and double daily London Heathrow service.