Gulf Air begins restoring flights, aims to connect 50+ cities by June 2026

Gulf Air has started restoring its flight network after recent disruptions, with plans to reconnect more than 50 destinations worldwide by June 2026.

The Bahrain-based airline said operations from Bahrain International Airport are gradually resuming following the reopening of the country’s airspace. The phased return marks a shift towards normal operations after weeks of disruption across the region.

Flights return in phases

The airline is rebuilding its schedule step by step, restarting routes across the Middle East, Europe and Asia over the coming weeks.

According to TradeArabia News Service, Gulf Air is currently operating flights to key cities including Riyadh, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Muscat, Dubai, Nairobi, Lahore, Dhaka, Islamabad and Istanbul.

From April, services to Abu Dhabi are set to resume, followed by a wider rollout of routes from April 21. This includes major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, along with international destinations like Paris, Frankfurt and Bangkok.

The airline said it will continue using an interim operating base at King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia until April 30, before fully shifting operations back to Bahrain.

Wider network to follow in May and June

A larger expansion is planned from May, when Gulf Air will restart flights to cities such as Doha, Bengaluru, Goa, Munich, Moscow, Milan and Athens.

Additional routes to destinations including Cairo, Manila, Colombo, Kuwait, Karachi and Amman are also scheduled to return during this phase.

From mid-May, services to Manchester, Rome, Guangzhou and Singapore will be reinstated, further strengthening the airline’s international reach.

By June, Gulf Air plans to resume flights to long-haul destinations including London Gatwick and New York, as well as cities such as Shanghai, Baku and Tbilisi.

The airline will also introduce seasonal summer routes to Geneva, Málaga, Nice and El Alamein.

Focus on restoring connectivity

Gulf Air said the phased restart is aimed at rebuilding connectivity across its network and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a regional aviation hub.

The airline noted that it is “advancing steadily in restoring and expanding its flight operations”, as services return to normal.

The disruption had affected routes across multiple regions, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and operate from alternate airports.

Operations remain under review

While the airline has outlined a clear timeline for resuming flights, it said schedules may still change depending on developments in regional airspace.

Gulf Air said it is continuing to monitor the situation closely in coordination with relevant authorities. The airline added that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority.

The gradual restoration of Gulf Air’s network reflects a broader recovery trend in the region’s aviation sector following recent disruptions.

If the planned schedule is maintained, the airline will return to near full operations by June, reconnecting key markets across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

For travellers, this means improved connectivity and more flight options in the coming months as airlines rebuild their networks.