Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced that it will be launching new direct flights between Bahrain International Airport (BAH) and London-Gatwick Airport (LGW) in a move that will strengthen its presence in the UK market.
As reported by the Bahrain News Agency and commencing on March 30, 2025, at the start of the IATA summer scheduling season, the airline will offer three weekly flights on the new route, all to be operated by the carrier’s ten-strong fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Each aircraft will offer accommodation for 282 passengers in a two-class layout – 26 in business class and 252 in economy class.
Flights will depart Bahrain International Airport at 01:45 on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, arriving at London-Gatwick at 06:55 (all local time). The return flight will depart Gatwick at 11:25, arriving back in Bahrain at 20:00 the same day. Flights times are around seven hours northbound to London and around six hours back to Bahrain. The sector length of the route is approximately 3,152 miles (5,043km).
The new services double up the airline’s presence on direct services offered to London by the Gulf-based carrier. The airline already currently serves London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) from Bahrain with a double daily service, also operated by the airline’s Boeing 787-9 fleet.
“This expansion reflects the growing demand for travel between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom, providing passengers with greater choice and convenience. London Gatwick will complement Gulf Air’s existing services to London-Heathrow Airport, offering enhanced connectivity to a wider range of destinations across the UK and beyond,” said a Gulf Air spokesperson.
“This new route to London-Gatwick is a significant step in Gulf Air’s wider vision to expand the carrier’s network and further strengthen the vital links between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the United Kingdom. We are confident this service will not only provide greater travel options for Gulf Air’s passengers but also boost trade and tourism opportunities between the two countries.”
Gulf Air is the oldest of any Gulf-based carriers and was originally set up in 1950 as Gulf Aviation. In 1973, the governments of Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and Oman jointly took control of the carrier from BOAC of the UK. As three of these governments later set up their own national airlines (Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Oman Air, respectively), the Kingdom of Bahrain took full control of the carrier in May 2007, which remains the case to this day.
Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 42 aircraft comprising eight Airbus A320-200s, six A320neos, four A321s, and 14 A321neos, in addition to its ten Boeing 787-9s. The airline is awaiting the delivery of a further two A320neos to grow its short-haul regional network.
