Gulf Air, the flag carrier of Bahrain, announced Thursday that it will purchase 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with options for six more.
The airline said the acquisition will support plans for more long-haul routes to the U.S., Europe, and Asia.
“This agreement marks a transformative step in Gulf Air’s strategic growth journey as we expand our global footprint and modernize our fleet with one of the industry’s most advanced and efficient aircraft,” said Khalid Taqi, chairman of Gulf Air Group. “The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has proven to be an exceptional aircraft for our long-haul operations, and this new order reflects our confidence in its performance, passenger appeal, and contribution to our sustainability goals.”
The deal was announced during a meeting in Washington, D.C., involving Taqi, Bahrain’s Finance Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope.
Gulf Air already has 10 787s in service, supporting flights to over 50 destinations worldwide.
The carrier recently announced that it is restarting service to New York City for the first time in 28 years. Starting on Oct. 1, Gulf Air will operate three flights per week between Bahrain International Airport and New York-JFK.
The airline currently does not fly to any destinations in the U.S. or North America more broadly.
