Gulf Air has restored a long-absent US link with the initiation of services between Bahrain and New York JFK.
The carrier sought authorisation for the flights after the US FAA’s safety assessment scheme classified the Middle Eastern kingdom as ICAO-compliant in November last year.
This lifted a restriction which previously permitted Bahraini carriers only to serve US routes through codeshares or wet-leasing.
Gulf Air disclosed earlier this year – during an official visit by the Bahraini crown prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to Washington – that the airline would open JFK flights on 1 October.
The airline is operating the route three-times weekly, using Boeing 787-9s. Its inaugural flight was conducted with a retro-livery aircraft (A9C-FG).
Gulf Air describes the re-opening as a “milestone event”, adding that it marks Bahrain’s “growing stature” in tourism, and aligns with the kingdom’s tourism strategy for 2022-26.
“As Gulf Air continues to expand its network, the airline remains committed to providing exceptional service and enhancing connectivity between east and west,” it says.
