Customers on Gulf Air will enjoy increased frequencies to a number of key cities in the Middle East, Far East and Indian Sub Continent as well as new point-to-point services to two new destinations from Bahrain with the 2005/06 winter schedule, which began on 30 October.
The ongoing development of Gulf Air’s network responds to customer preferences for increased, non-stop and frequent access to growing business and leisure destinations and expands the airline’s presence on a number of other popular regional and international routes.
“This winter’s changes coupled with previous moves represent the continuous aggressive steps we are taking to increase the productivity and efficiency of Gulf Air while at the same time improving services for customers,” said Gulf Air President and Chief Executive James Hogan.
Effective 30 October there are two additional flights per week from Bahrain to Bangalore and Chennai and five more flights per week to Karachi.
Meanwhile double daily flights are introduced to Mumbai.
Out of Muscat, Bangkok will now be served by an additional four flights per week while the re-introduction of daily flights to Dubai will no doubt prove popular.
The main highlights to the winter schedule however are the new services from Bahrain to Dublin and Bahrain to Johannesburg, which commence on 2 December.
Operated by Airbus A330 aircraft, passengers will be able to experience the airline’s state-of-the-art sky beds in First and Business Class, along with other innovations including Gulf Air’s unique First Class Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies for young passengers in every class.
Dublin becomes Gulf Air’s seventh destination in Europe and is in addition to the daily services to London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Paris and Athens and four days a week services to Istanbul and Larnaca.
The new Dublin service will commence with three flights per week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday with timings designed for excellent onward connections to the Far East and Australia.
Schedule details are as follows: GF0023 BAH 0115 DUB 0645
GF0024 DUB 0830 BAH 1905
“Business and leisure travellers now have a unique opportunity to fly direct to the Gulf from Dublin International Airport, which avoids the need to transit via Heathrow or another European hub, usually associated with journeys to the Middle East region,” said Hogan.
Johannesburg, which becomes Gulf Air’s 46th destination in 32 countries, is back on-line after an absence of more than seven years.
The service will begin with three flights per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Bahrain and every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Johannesburg.
Flights from Johannesburg will also provide excellent connectivity onwards to Hong Kong, Manila, Bangkok and Istanbul and a number of other destinations in Gulf Air’s extensive network.
Schedule details are as follows: GF715 BAH 20:45 JNB 04:45 +1
GF716 JNB 12:10 BAH 2135
“With the growing contact between South Africa and the Gulf for business and tourism, we felt the time was right to return to Johannesburg,” said Hogan.
“Travellers now have the opportunity to experience our award winning services and will find Bahrain the ideal gateway to the Arabian Gulf as well as providing excellent onward connections within the Gulf Air network, which extends across the Middle East as well as Eastbound and Westbound to Europe, Asia and Australia.
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is presently owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the region.
More than half a century later, the regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced are still central in defining the brand and service ethos within the contemporary and global environment.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 44 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft.
Under President and Chief Executive James Hogan, the successful implementation of the first phase of a restructuring programme, which commenced in 2003, has resulted in the establishment of a platform for sustained commercial operation.
It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ‘boutique airline’ vision.
The dramatic turnaround in fortunes has won international recognition. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) presented the airline with the prestigious Airline Turnaround of the Year Award for 2003. Gulf Air was also the recipient of the 2003 Platinum Award for the Best Airline in the Middle East and North Africa, which recognised the airline’s commitment to service excellence. Other awards include:
Winner - Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline Travel Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Most Improved Airline Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best First Class Onboard Food Category 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best Business Class Check-in Category 2004
