Other BriefingsBahrain’s Gulf Air To Start Direct Flights To China From January 2024
Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has confirmed that it will begin flights to China from January 2024. The carrier will operate to two cities in China – Guangzhou and Shanghai – from its hub of Bahrain International airport.
“China is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and a global tourism market. It is key to our strategy of calibrated network growth. These flights will offer greater choice and flexible travel experiences for passengers and create new pipelines for trade, tourism and collaboration, benefitting both nations,” said Jeffrey Goh, chief executive officer of Gulf Air Group Holding.
The flights will be operated using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner in a two-class configuration of business and economy.
The frequency or schedule of its flights to China hasn’t yet been announced, although Gulf Air said that “the schedule has been built to ensure convenient connections between China and destinations served by Gulf Air in the Middle East and Europe, and between these destinations and China.”
The new routes to China was announced at the Bahrain-China Investment Forum hosted by the Economic Development Board of Bahrain.
“We are confident these new flights will be appreciated by the international business community and those seeking exciting new leisure destinations and those simply looking to visit friends and family,” added Goh.
In May this year, Gulf Air activated its codeshare with another GCC carrier – Emirates. The expanded partnership resulted in Gulf Air placing its marketing code “GF” on Emirates operated flights beyond Dubai to several destinations including Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Algeria, Tunis, Bali, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Taipei, and Sao Paulo.
Last year, Bahrain International officially launched its new 210,000-square-metre terminal which has a capacity of 14 million passengers annually.
In 2022, Bahrain International hosted 6.9 million passengers, a 127.5% jump from the 3 million that is serviced in 2021. Last year, aircraft traffic movement at the airport rose from 51,000 in 2021 to 82,000, only 15% short of its pre-pandemic performance in 2019.
Bahrain is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which also includes Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. China is currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with the GCC.
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