Gulf Air is negotiating with Airbus and Boeing about its widebody aircraft orders.

The carrier has 24 Boeing 787-8s as well as 20 Airbus A330-200s on order, but could switch to more narrowbodies as part of its strategy to refocus as a niche regional carrier.

"We are negotiating our current aircraft orders, but at this stage nothing has been finalised," says Gulf Air.

The 20 A330-200s are scheduled for delivery between 2012 and 2016, as reported in Flightglobal's ACAS database.

Gulf Air A320
 © Gulf Air

The 24 787-8s are scheduled for delivery from 2016.

Gulf Air now operates a 36-aircraft fleet. The Bahrain-based carrier initiated a review of its operation a year ago and detailed an overhaul strategy in November that - by adjusting the network, fleet and cost base - aims to halt losses by 2012.

As a result Gulf Air has withdrawn 10 aircraft since last year, including several Airbus A340-300s and old A320-200s as it refocuses on regional operations. In the meantime it has taken nine new A320-200s from Airbus and leased two Embraer 170s.

Gulf Air says it is also aiming to bring in two Embraer 190s in the third quarter as it finalises its evaluation of the benefits of smaller types.

Source: Flight International