Key Takeaways
• Gulf Air will launch direct flights between Bahrain and New York JFK in September 2025 after nearly 30 years.
• Bahrain achieved FAA Category 1 safety status in November 2024, crucial for resuming direct US flights.
• Flights will operate three times weekly using Boeing 787 aircraft, improving travel for business, students, and tourists.
After nearly three decades, Gulf Air is ready to restart direct flights between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸. The airline’s return to this major route will begin with flights between Bahrain and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in early September 2025. This move comes after years of planning, government approvals, and a long period during which the airline had lost ground in the busy Gulf-to-America travel market.
Gulf Air’s Return: The Big Picture
Gulf Air’s restart of United States flights is more than just a business move. For passengers and the aviation industry, it helps reconnect Bahrain with North America directly after a long break of almost 30 years. For Bahrain, this change could help boost business, tourism, and travel connections with the United States. For the airline, it marks a comeback to a market once served but later left due to a range of challenges.
The new service will use Boeing 787 planes, known for their long-range abilities and passenger comfort. Flights will run three times a week between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and New York JFK. This will be the first non-stop passenger airline link between Bahrain and the United States 🇺🇸 in nearly 30 years.
Historical Context: What Changed Over 30 Years?
Gulf Air was once a strong player in connecting the Gulf region with the United States 🇺🇸. In the late 1980s and 1990s, it operated flights from Bahrain to New York and Houston, sometimes stopping in Abu Dhabi or Doha, using Airbus A340-300 planes. Because the older Airbus planes couldn’t fly the entire distance without stopping, flights needed a break in Larnaca, Cyprus, to refuel. Over time, challenges like new competitors, higher costs, and changing airline alliances led Gulf Air to stop these routes. By the late 1990s, flights between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and the United States 🇺🇸 had ended for good—at least until now.
Many people in the travel world saw the airline fade from the U.S. market as a sign of bigger changes: stronger competition from new airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, and a shift in focus among Gulf carriers from U.S. connections to other regions. Other airlines took over, offering many more Gulf-to-America flights and bigger networks, leaving Gulf Air with less of a global reach.
Getting Approval: Meeting Safety and Regulatory Needs
Re-entering the United States 🇺🇸 market is not just about booking airport slots and selling tickets. Any non-U.S. airline needs official approval from American aviation authorities.
In January 2025, Gulf Air reached a major milestone when the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) granted the airline a foreign air carrier permit. This permit allows Gulf Air to fly to any point in the United States 🇺🇸 with its own airplanes.
One crucial requirement was safety. In November 2024, Bahrain proudly achieved a Category 1 safety rating from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This rating confirms that Bahrain’s Civil Aviation Affairs department follows all international safety rules, making it safe for direct flights to and from the United States 🇺🇸. Being rated Category 1 is not easy; only airlines from countries that meet high international safety standards get it. Without it, Gulf Air’s plans for non-stop U.S. flights wouldn’t have been possible.
As reported by VisaVerge.com, these approvals and high safety scores show that both Bahrain and Gulf Air put in years of work to meet American rules and standards. The fresh opportunity is not just about bringing back a discontinued route. It’s proof that the airline and country have matched the world’s leading safety practices after a long absence from the U.S. market.
For more on safety standards and requirements for foreign airlines flying to the United States, travelers can visit the Federal Aviation Administration’s official website.
Why Now? Gulf Air’s Strategy and the Changing Gulf Market
The move to restart flights between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and New York is not only about money or filling seats. In fact, some industry experts believe that Gulf Air’s new route is unlikely to earn big profits at first. So why is the airline making the leap?
The answer is found in a mix of ambition, timing, and national interest:
- Improved Relationships: The route will make it easier for people to travel between Bahrain and the United States 🇺🇸. This helps businesses, diplomats, students, and tourists.
- Restoring Pride: In recent years, Gulf Air has seen its regional influence slip as rival Gulf airlines like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways built giant global networks. This move helps Gulf Air win back some lost importance and stand out among Gulf carriers.
- Market Gaps: While Gulf Air does not operate direct U.S. flights today, travel demand between Bahrain and the United States 🇺🇸 is strong. Right now, passengers often use complicated, multi-stop routes with other carriers or codeshare partners. Offering a direct flight could lure back travelers who prefer simple, fast journeys.
This strategy has been a goal for Gulf Air for a while. In 2019, then-CEO Kresimir Kucko spoke about plans to relaunch flights to the United States 🇺🇸 in the next three years. While the global pandemic stalled these plans, current CEO Jeffrey Goh revived the idea, saying in 2024 that flights could begin as early as mid-2025. With final regulatory approval, the plan is now set for September 2025.
The New Route: What to Expect for Travelers
Direct flights offer many benefits for different groups:
For Passengers
- Faster trips, with no need for extra flights or layovers in Europe or the Middle East.
- Seamless service between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and New York JFK.
- A modern Boeing 787 plane with comfortable seating for long journeys.
For Students and Families
- Students, especially those from Bahrain studying in the United States 🇺🇸, will find it easier to travel during school holidays.
- Families visiting relatives in either country will save time and enjoy a smoother trip.
For Businesses
- Business travelers can expect more reliable schedules, better cargo options, and a direct link between two economic hubs.
- Improved options for companies with offices or investments in Bahrain and the United States 🇺🇸.
For Tourism and the Economy
- The route can encourage more tourists from America to visit Bahrain 🇧🇭 and the Gulf region.
- Tourism operators, hoteliers, and other parts of the local economy stand to gain from the increased flow of visitors.
Codeshare Agreements: Filling the Gaps
Although Gulf Air has not flown directly to the United States 🇺🇸 since the 1990s, it kept some presence in the market using codeshare agreements. In simple terms, a codeshare allows two airlines to sell seats on each other’s flights. The passengers book with one airline but may travel on another, with seamless connections and joint ticketing.
Today, Gulf Air has codeshare agreements with major airlines, especially American Airlines and Etihad Airways. Passengers currently go from Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 to the United States 🇺🇸 by routing through big European hubs like Frankfurt, London Heathrow, or Paris Charles De Gaulle. Some routes through Abu Dhabi—with Etihad—allow one-stop travel to airports like Washington Dulles.
Still, none of these routes match the speed, ease, or convenience of a direct service. The new flights to New York JFK will remove extra transfers, shorten the total trip, and likely appeal to travelers who value time and comfort.
What Does It Mean for Competition?
Gulf Air’s new moves happen against a backdrop of fierce rivalry among Middle East airlines. For the past 20 years, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have more or less taken over the U.S.-Gulf travel market. These airlines run multiple daily flights between their hubs and several U.S. cities, using ultra-modern planes and offering large business class and first class cabins.
Bahrain is a smaller market than the United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 or Qatar 🇶🇦, and Gulf Air doesn’t have the same size or global reach. But the return of direct United States 🇺🇸 flights adds more choice for travelers and could increase connections in the Gulf region as a whole. Even if Gulf Air attracts only a small share of travelers at first, it marks a shift back toward offering direct, national-flag carrier options for travelers coming from or going to Bahrain.
For Gulf Air, these flights are also a signal of confidence: the airline is once again ready to compete for long-haul international travel, even as larger rivals dominate the skies.
The Bigger Picture: National Benefit Over Profit
According to industry observers, this new route may not make big money for Gulf Air, at least at the start. Airlines launching long new routes often lose money for months or even years. But the direct link is expected to bring broader benefits to Bahrain:
- More Investment: Business travelers and companies may feel more comfortable investing or working between the two countries thanks to simpler flight options.
- Government and Diplomatic Links: Direct flights can make international meetings and diplomacy smoother.
- Boost to Reputation: Having a national airline serve major global routes can raise Bahrain’s image on the world stage.
So, this is not just about filling plane seats; it’s also about building stronger bonds in trade, culture, education, and more.
What Should Travelers Expect Next?
If you’re planning to visit Bahrain from the United States 🇺🇸, or vice versa, you can look forward to new options starting September 2025. Exact schedules, timetables, and prices will be released by Gulf Air closer to the launch date. Travelers can check the airline’s official website for regular updates and booking information.
Keep in mind:
- Flights will run three times weekly between Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 and New York JFK.
- The route will use Boeing 787 planes, designed for long journeys and modern passenger comforts.
- Official bookings, fare details, and frequent flyer options will be posted ahead of the launch.
The Impact for the Future
Gulf Air reconnecting Bahrain International Airport 🇧🇭 to the United States 🇺🇸 is a milestone for air travel in the region. The move may spark further changes, such as more routes or expanded services in the future. Passengers, students, businesses, and the governments of both countries are expected to benefit.
When the first flight departs Bahrain for New York in September 2025, it will not only mark the end of a nearly 30-year wait but also show Bahrain’s growth and Gulf Air’s renewed energy on the world travel map.
This step forward could lead to lasting positive impacts for travelers and both nations, helping open new doors and build stronger bridges between the Gulf and America for years to come.
Learn Today
Category 1 safety rating → FAA designation showing a country’s aviation authority meets top global safety standards, required for direct US service.
Foreign air carrier permit → Official DOT authorization allowing non-US airlines to operate flights into, out of, or within the United States.
Codeshare agreement → A partnership where airlines share flight codes, letting passengers book seats across both airlines for seamless journeys.
Boeing 787 → Long-range, fuel-efficient aircraft known for passenger comfort and advanced technology, ideal for lengthy international routes.
Civil Aviation Affairs → Bahrain’s government body responsible for regulating and overseeing all aspects of civil aviation in the nation.
This Article in a Nutshell
Gulf Air is set to relaunch direct flights from Bahrain to New York in September 2025 after a 30-year break. This milestone follows Bahrain’s recent FAA Category 1 safety rating. The service aims to restore vital connections for business, tourism, and families, boosting economic and diplomatic ties.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Average Salary in Portugal Lags Behind United States for 2025
• What to know about re-establishing residency in the United States
• Free Trade Agreement marks new era for United Kingdom and India ties
• Diversity Visa Lottery offers 55,000 immigrant visas to United States
• Asylum seekers linked to rise in homelessness in United States
