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# BAHRAIN: Gulf Air Eyes Larger Fleet Plan Amid 787 Constraints
- URL: https://insideaviation.news/bahrain-gulf-air-eyes-larger-fleet-plan-amid-787-constraints/
- Published: 2026-10-23T13:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T12:59:59.000Z
- Description: FRANKFURT, Germany: Gulf Air is reviewing its long-term aircraft requirements after high load factors exposed a shortage of widebody capacity across parts of its network. CEO Martin Gauss said the carrier may not have ordered enough 787s to meet current demand and longer-term network ambitions
- Author: Inside Aviation News
- Tags: Gulf Air, Bahrain, Aircraft Orders, 787-8, 787-9, Leasing

FRANKFURT, Germany

- Gulf Air is reviewing its long-term aircraft requirements after high load factors exposed a shortage of widebody capacity across parts of its network.
- CEO Martin Gauss said during World Routes 2026 in Frankfurt the carrier may not have ordered enough Boeing 787s to meet current demand and longer-term network ambitions.
- Two additional 787-9s are due to arrive in the spring.
- Gulf Air announced an agreement in July 2025 to purchase 12 787-9s with options for six more, bringing the firm orderbook to 14 aircraft alongside 10 already in service.
- The Bahraini carrier also operates eight A320ceo, nine A320neo, four A321ceo, and 16 A321neo.
- The fleet plan supports additional capacity to Europe and Asia plus higher frequencies within the Gulf region.
- Gulf Air is using Airbus A321neo on several European routes due to insufficient widebody capacity.
- According to Gauss, a new 787 order placed today might not deliver until 2034.
- Gulf Air temporarily relocated its fleet to Saudi Arabia during 40 days of Bahrain airspace closure caused by the Iran conflict and rebuilt its network within six weeks.
- The airline is operating slightly more of its network than a year ago with revenue ahead of the previous year.
- Gauss warned Gulf Air may lack sufficient capacity to accommodate a sharp rebound once regional tensions ease.
- Gulf Air is finalizing its fleet plan for the next 10 years and expects more widebodies, more narrowbodies and a different mix than today.
- Gulf Air launched service to Kuala Lumpur on 29 September alongside existing Singapore flights. It also serves Guangzhou and Shanghai in China.

**Source:**

- [Aviation Week](https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/gulf-air-signals-larger-fleet-plan-amid-787-constraints?ref=insideaviation.news)