Gulf Air Eyes US Flights with Free Wi-Fi and Enhanced Dining

Bahrain’s Gulf Air is planning significant inflight service upgrades as part of its 75th-anniversary celebrations and a potential return to U.S. routes. During the Routes World 2024 conference on Oct. 6, CEO Jeffrey Goh announced enhancements that include free Wi-Fi, improved inflight entertainment, and upgraded dining options.

The soft product improvements will feature new chinaware, glassware, cutlery, and other onboard amenities, according to Goh. However, Gulf Air does not plan to update its seating or cabin interiors, as these are relatively new, with the average age of its fleet under seven years. The airline operates a modern fleet of 32 Airbus A320-family aircraft and eight Boeing 787 wide-bodies.

Founded in 1949, Gulf Air was once the flag carrier for Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. Now solely Bahraini, the airline operates in a competitive landscape dominated by Emirates and Qatar Airways. Despite its smaller size, with 40 aircraft compared to the larger fleets of its rivals, Gulf Air has ambitious growth plans.

The airline intends to increase its network from 60 to 75 destinations by the end of the decade, with new U.S. routes on the horizon. While Gulf Air previously operated flights to New York, these ceased in 1997. Goh did not specify which U.S. cities the airline might serve but confirmed the carrier is working to meet FAA and TSA requirements.

This year, Gulf Air added new destinations, including Geneva, Munich, and Shanghai, to its expanding network.

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