Gulf Air Resumes U.S. Flights With Bahrain–New York JFK Route

Gulf Air will return to the U.S. market for the first time in nearly three decades with the launch of nonstop service between Bahrain and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), starting October 1, 2025.

The Bahraini flag carrier will operate the route three times weekly using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Initially, flights will arrive at JFK’s Terminal One, with plans to shift operations to the new Terminal One complex in June 2026 once construction is complete.

CEO Jeffrey Goh called the relaunch a strategic step in Gulf Air’s calibrated growth, enhancing connectivity between Bahrain and North America. The move follows Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Authority securing FAA Category 1 safety status in late 2024, allowing Bahraini airlines to operate to the U.S. under their own air operator certificates.

Gulf Air previously served JFK between 1994 and 1997 through a combination of nonstop and one-stop routes via Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Larnaca. The carrier has since focused on regional connectivity but is now expanding its global network in line with Bahrain’s tourism goals.

Gulf Air’s current fleet includes 10 Boeing 787-9s and 33 Airbus A320-family aircraft. Two more Dreamliners are due by 2027, and the airline has signed lease deals for five A320neos and three A321neos to support growth.

Despite past reliability concerns with its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, Gulf Air says performance has stabilized. The JFK route is expected to be the first of up to 25 new destinations planned as the airline targets a 50-aircraft fleet within five years.

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