Gulf Air Announces New Direct Route To New York

Dhaka: Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, will launch its first transatlantic route with a direct Bahrain–New York service starting 1 October 2025.

The landmark move positions Bahrain among a select group of GCC hubs-alongside Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh-offering nonstop connectivity to the U.S.

Operating three times weekly-on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays-the route will be served by Gulf Air's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, featuring 282 seats, including 26 in Business Class.

Flight GF001 will depart Bahrain International Airport (BAH) at 04:00, arriving at New York JFK's Terminal 1 at 10:55 local time. Return flight GF002 will depart JFK at 15:00, arriving in Bahrain at 10:35 the following day.

The service comes amid strengthening Bahrain–U.S. commercial and diplomatic ties and forms part of Gulf Air's broader international expansion strategy.

CEO Jeffrey Goh stated the launch supports“calibrated expansion and strategic market growth,” enhancing North America connectivity through BAH.

Following a 5.4pc passenger growth to 6.2 million in 2024, Gulf Air has introduced new routes including London Gatwick, multiple European summer destinations, and six new cities globally-two each in Greece and China.

It has also increased frequencies to Manchester, Milan, Rome, and Singapore, expanded its codeshare network to 20 partners, and signed 23 airline partnerships. The fleet now stands at 42 aircraft, including two new A321NEOs.

Initial operations will use BAH's current terminal, with a shift to the new Terminal One scheduled for June 2026. A move to increase frequency to daily flights is under consideration based on demand.

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