Gulf Air to Resume Bahrain–New York Flights in 2025
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, is poised to relaunch services to the United States after securing an operating permit from the US Department of Transportation. The airline last served New York and Houston between 1994 and 1997 before pausing transatlantic flights due to aircraft availability constraints. Years of behind-the-scenes work by Gulf Air and the Bahrain Civil Aviation Authority to meet Federal Aviation Administration safety standards have now cleared the way for the carrier’s return to US soil.
Jeffrey Goh, Gulf Air’s CEO and former Star Alliance executive, has repeatedly signaled a mid-2025 launch, contingent on aircraft readiness. Early reports suggest the first route to resume will be the 6,613-mile flight between Bahrain International Airport and New York-JFK, operating three times weekly from September 2025. According to insider information, a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will depart Bahrain in the early hours, touching down in New York late that morning. The return service will leave JFK mid-afternoon, arriving back in Bahrain by the following afternoon.
This transatlantic revival follows decades of speculation. In 2010, then-CEO Kresimir Kucko forecast a US return within three years, only to be stalled by global economic shifts and the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with a modern fleet of 32 Airbus narrowbodies and ten Boeing 787-9s averaging six years in age, Gulf Air is finally ready to bridge the Gulf to North America once again.
The carrier’s current network spans 56 routes to 52 destinations across 31 countries, ranging from London Heathrow and Manchester in Europe to Manila in Asia. The planned US services will complement Gulf Air’s existing links and leverage partnerships to extend connectivity. Onward travel from New York to other Gulf and Middle Eastern cities will be facilitated through codeshares, enhancing choice for business and leisure travellers alike.
Investments in Bahrain’s aviation infrastructure have accelerated alongside the airline’s fleet renewal. In mid-2022, Bahrain International Airport unveiled a new $1.1 billion terminal, featuring state-of-the-art facilities and expanded capacity to handle growing international traffic. This modern gateway will serve as the departure point for Gulf Air’s US services and future long-haul ambitions.
Gulf Air’s decision to return to the US market comes amid intense competition from the region’s “Big Three” carriers—Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways—but also reflects the carrier’s determined repositioning on the global stage. By adding New York and potentially Houston back into its schedule, Gulf Air aims to reclaim share of lucrative premium travel segments and attract North American tourists to Bahrain and beyond.
As preparations continue, Gulf Air is finalizing crew training, regulatory approvals and marketing campaigns to promote the new services. Ticket sales for the Bahrain–New York route are expected to open this summer, with promotional fares designed to stimulate demand ahead of the September launch.
With transatlantic operations set to resume after nearly three decades, Gulf Air’s US return marks a milestone in the airline’s ongoing transformation. By combining a rejuvenated fleet, upgraded home-base facilities and renewed regulatory compliance, the carrier is charting a bold course to reconnect Bahrain with North America in the autumn of 2025.
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