How Gulf Air’s measured expansion is...

Passengers up 5.4% as airline adds six destinations and two aircraft

The importance of a strong aviation sector to a country’s tourism ambitions cannot be underestimated, and with Bahrain looking to bolster visitor numbers, it’s been a good year for flag carrier Gulf Air as passengers increased 5.4% to 6.2 million in 2024.

The airline added six new destinations in 2024, with flights from Bahrain International Airport (BIA) to AlUla in Saudi Arabia, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China, Mykonos/Rhodes in Greece, Geneva in Switzerland and Munich in Germany.

Flights were resumed to Baghdad and Najaf in Iraq, and additional flights were added to key destinations including Doha in Qatar, Muscat in Oman, Manchester in the UK, Milan and Rome in Italy and Singapore.

The importance of direct connections from the GCC to major global cities was not lost on Riyadh Air’s CEO Tony Douglas, speaking at the PIF Private Sector Forum in February 2025.

Douglas bemoaned the lack of direct flights from Saudi’s capital to major destinations such as Tokyo, Shanghai and Sydney as “unacceptable”, adding that Saudi passport holders account for the majority of First and Business Class passengers on Qatar Airways flights, and rank third on Emirates for premium seats.

Riyadh Air’s official launch is expected later this year after delays with aircraft deliveries from Boeing. It has orders for a total of 132 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, and intends to fly to 100 destinations by 2030.

Put into context, Gulf Air also added two new A321NEO aircraft in 2024, bringing the total fleet size to 42. The airline also agreed 23 partnership agreements with other carriers and expanded its codeshare network to 20 partners.

While Saudi has the bold ambition to attract 150 million international visitors by 2030, the small island kingdom of Bahrain has a more modest target of 14 million by 2026.

The numbers are looking good. According to 2023 statistics, visitors reached 12.4 million and the number of tourist nights hit 19 million. In 2024, Bahrain International Airport welcomed 9.4 million passengers, a 7.3% increase compared to 2023.

Bahrain is also benefiting from the growing Gulf cruise sector, welcoming a record number of cruise ships in 2024, delivering a 104% hike in cruise visitors.

There are also some key initiatives and new openings that bode well for Bahrain.

Hawar Resort by Mantis opened in January 2025 with 104 beachside and overwater villas, a spa, pool, sporting facilities and private beach. Nestled within a wildlife sanctuary on UNESCO-listed Hawar Island, a 30-minute boat ride from the mainland, the eco-luxury resort offers cooking classes, kayaking tours and wildlife adventures.

Bahrain is benefiting from the growing Gulf cruise sector and a focus on eco tourism, opening a new resort on UNESCO-listed Hawar Island

Hawar Resort by Mantis

In February 2025, Travel app Wego partnered with Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) to showcase the kingdom as a travel destination.

Bahrain is investing in its tourism offering with the launch of new resorts, event venues and an expanded cultural calendar, aligning with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030, which aims to enhance economic diversification and sustainability in the tourism sector.

This is supported by the introduction in October 2023 of a GCC visa, similar to the Schengen Zone in the EU, that covers Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain and allows easy cross-border access for visitors to the region.

What brings visitors to Bahrain is cultural richness, where ancient traditions and heritage are showcased alongside contemporary developments. And for an island nation, the vast majority of those visitors arrive by air, which is why it is essential for Gulf Air to continue to develop its network and expansion.

Reports suggest Kuwait is also doubling-down on aviation. Terminal Two at Kuwait International Airport is due to open in 2027 and there are suggestions that Kuwait Airways will expand its fleet from the current 33 aircraft.

However, there is a cautionary airline ‘rightsizing’ tale from elsewhere in the GCC. At the end of 2024, Oman Air slashed its fleet size by 29%, down to 32 aircraft, as passenger numbers fell 13% to 5.4 million.

With that in mind, it appears Bahrain’s slow and steady approach aligns with the need for sustainable growth in its tourism sector.

For more information, visit www.gulfair.com

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