Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has revived its long-dormant route between the oil-rich Middle Eastern kingdom and New York City, resuming nonstop flights after a 28-year hiatus.
The service launched on Wednesday, marking the airline’s return to the US market amid its 75th anniversary celebrations.
The carrier, which is entirely owned by the government of Bahrain through its sovereign wealth fund, will operate flights three times per week from Bahrain International Airport to JFK’s Terminal 1.
It comes after Gulf Air inked a deal with Boeing in July to snap up 12 of the US giant’s 787-9 Dreamliner planes with an option for another six.
That is the aircraft that will be used on the Bahrain-New York route, which is configured with 26 business-class seats in its “Falcon Gold” cabin and 256 economy seats.
Bahrain is an archipelago of about 33 islands that sits between Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
It signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020 to formally recognize Israel, and senior company sources said the airline could soon revive its direct route from Bahrain to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport if President Trump’s peace deal is accepted and implemented by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Executives at Gulf Air hope the strategic push to expand into the United States will strengthen cultural and economic ties between this country and the former British protectorate.
They are gambling on attractions such as the Formula One Grand Prix and its UNESCO-listed sites to tempt American tourists in a bid to take on larger rivals such as Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Onward destinations from JFK include Abu Dhabi, India’s capital Delhi, and Doha in Qatar, according to the airline’s website.
Gulf Air last served New York in 1997, when it was part of a broader US network that once included Houston.
Financial challenges, including years of losses, delayed the return until the airline achieved profitability.
Regulatory approvals were secured in April 2025, with tickets going on sale shortly after. That announcement came ahead of a visit by Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister to the US this past July.
Codeshare partnerships enhance the route’s appeal. Gulf Air has already agreed deals with American Airlines, KLM, and Turkish Airlines, among others, boosting the possibility of transfer passengers snapping up seats on the new flight.
If Bahrain is successful in positioning itself as a gateway, this route could pave the way for further US expansions, potentially to cities like Chicago or Los Angeles in the coming years.
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