Gulf Air has officially restored 75% of its global flight network, marking a major milestone in the airline’s ongoing recovery and expansion efforts. The Bahraini national carrier currently operates flights to 40 destinations across 24 countries and plans to fully restore its network by June 1, 2026, while continuing to gradually add more routes and frequencies in the coming weeks.

The latest development highlights the growing momentum within the regional and international aviation sector as travel demand continues rising ahead of the busy summer season. Increased tourism activity, business travel, and international connectivity have pushed airlines worldwide to rebuild operations and expand schedules after years of disruption across the global travel industry.

Gulf Air’s expanding network is also expected to further strengthen Bahrain’s position as a key regional travel and transit hub. Industry observers say the airline’s accelerated recovery supports the Kingdom’s wider tourism and economic growth ambitions, particularly as Bahrain continues investing heavily in hospitality, infrastructure, and international events.

The continued restoration of routes and flight frequencies will provide travelers with greater accessibility, more destination choices, and improved connectivity between Bahrain and major global markets.

Travel momentum is officially taking off again.

More destinations are officially back on the map as Gulf Air continues expanding its international network with another wave of resumed flights across Europe and Asia.

The national carrier has announced the third phase of its scheduled flight resumptions, with services returning to Manchester, Rome, Guangzhou, and Singapore starting from mid-May. The latest rollout pushes Gulf Air’s operational network to 40 active destinations worldwide, representing approximately 74% of the airline’s full global route map.

The expansion marks another major milestone in the airline’s ongoing recovery strategy as international travel demand continues rising across multiple markets. The resumed routes reconnect Bahrain with key business, tourism, and transit hubs, while also giving travelers more direct flight options and smoother regional and international connections.

The return of Manchester and Rome strengthens Gulf Air’s European footprint, while Guangzhou and Singapore reinforce links to major Asian destinations known for business, trade, tourism, and aviation connectivity. The move also reflects wider momentum across the regional aviation sector, with airlines steadily restoring suspended routes and rebuilding pre-expansion travel capacity.

For Bahrain, the growing route network further boosts international accessibility and supports the Kingdom’s position as a regional travel and transit hub. Increased connectivity is also expected to benefit tourism, commerce, and outbound travel demand as summer travel activity begins accelerating across the Gulf region.

As more destinations continue returning to operation, Gulf Air’s latest expansion signals a faster-paced recovery phase for Bahrain’s national carrier and a broader return of global travel movement across international markets.

Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air, has officially entered a new chapter in aviation technology after successfully operating its first-ever Starlink-powered flight over Bahrain. ✈️🇧🇭

The milestone marks a major upgrade to the airline’s onboard digital experience, introducing ultra-high-speed satellite internet that allows passengers to stay connected from takeoff to landing. Through the new Starlink system, travelers can browse the internet, stream content, use messaging apps, and stay productive in the air with seamless connectivity throughout the journey.

The launch places Gulf Air among a growing number of international airlines adopting next-generation inflight internet technology as passenger expectations continue shifting toward uninterrupted digital access while traveling. The move also reflects Bahrain’s broader push toward innovation, smart infrastructure, and advanced technology integration across multiple sectors.

Passengers onboard the historic flight experienced complimentary access to the service, giving travelers a glimpse into what future Gulf Air journeys may look like as the airline modernizes its fleet experience. The introduction of Starlink-powered connectivity is expected to significantly improve inflight convenience, particularly for business travelers, frequent flyers, and passengers on longer regional and international routes.

The achievement represents another milestone for Gulf Air as the airline continues enhancing passenger experience while strengthening Bahrain’s position in regional aviation innovation.