Gulf Air Returns to New York After Nearly Three Decades

Bahrain's national airline has reconnected the small Gulf kingdom with America's largest city, launching nonstop service to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for the first time in 28 years.

Gulf Air inaugurated the route on Wednesday as part of its 75th anniversary milestone. The government-owned carrier will fly the route three times weekly from Bahrain International Airport to JFK Terminal 1. The airline celebrated the reopening with a reception at the Peninsula Hotel in New York.

Fleet Modernization Enables Expansion

The resumption of US service follows Gulf Air's July order for 12 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft with options for six more. These widebody jets will operate the route, featuring 26 "Falcon Gold" business-class seats and 256 economy-class seats.

Competing for American Travelers

Gulf Air faces competition from larger regional carriers like Qatar Airways and Emirates. The airline is banking on Bahrain's appeal, including its annual Formula One Grand Prix and UNESCO World Heritage sites, to attract American tourists.

Bahrain's 2020 Abraham Accords with Israel may create additional opportunities. Senior airline sources indicated the carrier could restore direct flights to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, depending on regional peace developments.

Gulf Air executives view the New York route as strengthening cultural and economic ties between Bahrain and the United States, marking both a nostalgic milestone and a strategic push into the competitive transatlantic market.

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