This summer sees Bahrain national carrier Gulf Air commence its highly anticipated network expansion.

Alongside this, the airline will roll out its 2018 Summer Schedule, increasing capacity and flights to and from several popular destinations during the upcoming peak travel period between mid-June and mid-September 2018, catering to growing passenger numbers.

Gulf Air flights to the Jordanian capital city of Amman will increase to triple daily, while flights to the Lebanese capital city of Beirut will increase to double daily. The popular summer destination of Istanbul in Turkey will be served with 12 weekly flights during the peak summer period while Athens, Greece will be served by seven weekly Gulf Air flights. Gulf Air flights to Larnaca, Cyprus have permanently increased to a daily service and Baghdad in Iraq has also permanently increased to a five weekly service.

Additionally, the airline’s flights to Multan in Pakistan have already increased to five weekly while Gulf Air has increased capacity on its Cairo, Khartoum and Addis Ababa routes. Gulf Air’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will serve the airline’s double daily London Heathrow service, with increased capacity and enhanced, superior onboard products and services, from June 15. Alongside this, Gulf Air will increase its flights during the peak summer period by 200 more weekly flights compared to 2017.

Regionally, the airline’s upcoming network expansion will see it launch five weekly flights to Abha and Tabuk in Saudi Arabia from June 15, three weekly flights to Alexandria, Egypt from June 10 and two weekly flights to Sharm El Shaikh, Egypt from June 16. In India, Gulf Air will expand to include daily flights to Bangalore from 1st May and seven flights weekly to Calicut from June 15. Alongside this, the airline will offer five flights weekly to Casablanca in Morocco from June 11 and five weekly flights to Baku in Azerbaijan from June 12.

Gulf Air chief executive officer Krešimir Kučko said: “Not only will our upcoming network additions better connect our valued passengers to the places and people that matter the most, our Summer 2018 Schedule will see us increase flights to several popular destinations during the peak summer travel period between mid-June and mid-September 2018. The frequency and capacity increases that Gulf Air will implement in the coming months are in response to the demand on these key routes. Gulf Air’s summer schedule provides greater choice of flights and greater capacity to carry more passengers during the busy summer holiday period. This will also serve to strengthen Bahrain’s strategic business and tourism links and facilitate enhanced connectivity for passengers travelling across the Gulf Air network, to and from Bahrain.”

In 2018, Gulf Air’s network will serve 49 cities in 26 countries. Gulf Air’s highly anticipated incoming fleet of 39 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft will see, in 2018, the arrival of five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and two Airbus A320neo aircraft. Last month’s 2018 Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix had a standout, globally broadcast, moment as Gulf Air’s first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fly pass showcased not only Gulf Air’s newest, state-of-the-art aircraft but also the new Gulf Air livery. - TradeArabia News Service