Gulf Air reopens NYC-Bahrain flights after – Business News
Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national provider, has revived its long-dormant route between the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom and New York City, resuming nonstop flights after a 28-year hiatus.
The service launched on Wednesday, marking the airline’s return to the US market amid its seventy fifth anniversary celebrations.
The provider, which is fully owned by the federal government of Bahrain via its sovereign wealth fund, will operate flights thrice per week from Bahrain International Airport to JFK’s Terminal 1.
Gulf Air inked a deal with Boeing in July to buy 12 787-9 Dreamliners, with an option to accumulate six more as half of its formidable enlargement plans. Travers – stock.adobe.com
It comes after Gulf Air inked a deal with Boeing in July to snap up 12 of the US giant’s 787-9 Dreamliner planes with an option for one more six.
That is the plane that will probably be used on the Bahrain-New York route, which is configured with 26 business-class seats in its “Falcon Gold” cabin and 256 financial system seats.
Bahrain is an archipelago of about 33 islands that sits between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The Al Fateh Grand Mosque in Manama, Bahrain, is one of the points of interest that Gulf Air executives hope will tempt American travellers to go to the tiny island nation. PixHound – stock.adobe.com
It signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020 to formally acknowledge Israel, and senior company sources stated the airline may quickly revive its direct route from Bahrain to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport if President Trump’s peace deal is accepted and carried out by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Executives at Gulf Air hope the strategic push to develop into the United States will strengthen cultural and financial ties between this nation and the previous British protectorate.
They are playing on points of interest such because the Formula One Grand Prix and its UNESCO-listed websites to tempt American vacationers in a bid to tackle bigger rivals resembling Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Gulf Air
Onward locations from JFK embrace Abu Dhabi, India’s capital Delhi, and Doha in Qatar, based on the airline’s web site.
Gulf Air final served New York in 1997, when it was half of a broader US community that when included Houston.
Financial challenges, together with years of losses, delayed the return till the airline achieved profitability.
Regulatory approvals had been secured in April 2025, with tickets happening sale shortly after. That announcement got here forward of a go to by Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the US this previous July.
Codeshare partnerships improve the route’s appeal. Gulf Air has already agreed offers with American Airlines, KLM, and Turkish Airlines, amongst others, boosting the likelihood of switch passengers snapping up seats on the new flight.
If Bahrain is profitable in positioning itself as a gateway, this route may pave the best way for additional US expansions, probably to cities like Chicago or Los Angeles within the coming years.
