Gulf Air restarts flights from Bahrain International Airport

Bahrain has reopened its airspace, allowing Gulf Air to resume limited flights from Bahrain International Airport as operations restart following weeks of disruption across the region.

 

The reopening, approved by Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs, comes after airspace closures following the outbreak of the Israel-Iran war on 28 February 2026, with services now resuming under a temporary ceasefire that has eased restrictions across key flight corridors.

 

Gulf Air, the kingdom’s national carrier, had suspended Bahrain-based operations during the disruption, shifting part of its network to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia to maintain connectivity.

 

The airline has resumed direct services to Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh, alongside long-haul routes including London Heathrow, Nairobi and Dhaka.

 

Flights have also restarted to key Indian cities including Mumbai, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram, as well as Islamabad and Lahore, reconnecting Bahrain with major labour and leisure markets.

 

Schedules are operating on a limited basis, with frequencies expected to increase as conditions stabilise.

 

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Operations from Dammam continue as scheduled, with Gulf Air maintaining its existing international services from the Saudi hub alongside the phased restart in Bahrain. The dual-hub setup has allowed the airline to sustain parts of its network during the disruption while preparing for a gradual return to full operations from its home base.

 

Bahrain Airport Company is working with airlines, ground handlers and other aviation stakeholders to restore operations in phases, while maintaining safety and operational continuity at the airport.

 

Khalid Taqi, Chairman of Gulf Air Group, said: “We are pleased to resume limited operations at Bahrain International Airport and look forward to progressively restoring our full network.

 

Flight activity across the Gulf is slowly rebounding following the start of the war, with the region’s carriers currently operating at 52% of their pre-conflict schedules, according to data from Flightradar24. 

 

GCC airlines across the region have also introduced flexible booking policies and revised schedules in recent weeks as operations gradually stabilise.

 

For more information, visit www.gulfair.com