Gulf Air

Gulf Air (GF/GFA) is a scheduled airline based in Muharraq, Bahrain and founded in 1950. Its operations are centred on Bahrain International Airport. Originfacts tracks 13 destinations on its network across 7 countries.

Gulf Air is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, tracing its origins to 1950 when it began as Gulf Aviation, a small air taxi service operating from Bahrain. It was restructured and relaunched as Gulf Air in 1974, serving for decades as the flag carrier for several Gulf states before becoming wholly Bahraini-owned. The airline is headquartered in Manama and operates its main hub at Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq, from where it offers scheduled passenger services to destinations across the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Key routes include London, Paris, Frankfurt, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangkok, and Manila. The fleet is centred on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for long-haul and high-demand routes, complemented by the Airbus A320neo and A321neo families on regional and medium-haul services. Gulf Air is not a member of any of the three major global airline alliances, preferring instead to grow its network through bilateral codeshare and interline partnerships with carriers such as American Airlines, Saudia, and Philippine Airlines. Its Falconflyer frequent flyer programme rewards passengers with tier benefits across Gold, Silver, and Blue levels, and the airline is known for its traditional Arabian hospitality, including its signature onboard Sky Chefs on selected flights. Gulf Air has also invested in premium cabin products, including lie-flat Falcon Gold seats on its 787s. While the carrier continues to work on returning to sustained profitability in a highly competitive Gulf aviation market dominated by larger neighbours, it remains a central pillar of Bahrain's connectivity and national identity.