Gulf Air CEO Teases U.S. Launch as Expansion Plans Gather Pace
Photo Caption: The tailfin of a Gulf Air Airbus A320neo. Airbus
Skift Take
Decades before Emirates and Etihad graced the skies, Gulf Air leveraged its location to bridge east and west. Outclassed by the new(ish) kids on the block, Bahrain's national carrier is back on the offensive and hoping to grow its way back to profitability and global relevance.
Gulf Air is gearing up for significant expansion as it grows its network and strengthens its position in the hyper-competitive Middle East market.
Speaking to Skift, Group CEO Jeffrey Goh confirmed that the airline is considering additional widebody planes to support ambitious growth, with the United States firmly in its sights.
The carrier was one of the first commercial airlines in the Middle East and will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. However, in recent decades, Gulf Air has been overshadowed by its larger neighbors in Qatar and the UAE. The fresh management team, led by Goh, is aiming to put Bahrain back on the global radar.
“In the case of the United States, we are looking at it very keenly. But flying to the U.S., you have to address many regulatory hurdles,” Goh said. “We are doing that. We have connectivity ambitions, I have a list. The U.S. is one of many destinations on our list.”
The CEO added that h
