BAHRAIN: Gulf Air Eyes Larger Fleet Plan Amid 787 Constraints

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