Manama, Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has added 11 extra flights to its existing flights to Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Riyadh to meet the increasing market demand.The airline will operate four extra flights to Jeddah, increasing its frequency from 10 to 14 per week each direction starting from 01 March 2012, while adding seven flights to Riyadh increasing the frequency from its present 14 flights per week to 21 flights each direction, also starting from 01 March 2012. Together, these additional flights will offer 3000 seats and 22,000 kilos of cargo capacity per week.
Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Samer Majali said, “The introduction of additional flights to these two cities emphasizes the importance we attach to Saudi Arabia and our business strategy to concentrate on high-demand routes to ensure our core customer base is served effectively and efficiently.”
He continued, “We have been flying to Jeddah since 1976 and own the distinction of being the first international airline to land in Riyadh in 1982. Since then we have continuously expanded and strengthened our presence connecting customers from the far corners of the Kingdom to the world through our network.”
“The departures and arrivals of the additional flights have been timed in such a way that it benefits international and regional business travellers. Being strategically located at the doorsteps of Saudi Arabia, Gulf Air offers the best connections for customers to reach out to the vast GCC, MENA and Europe markets with over 300 connections in less than three hours via its efficient Bahrain hub. Regional travellers now have more flight options to travel between Bahrain and these cities and return the same day.”
“I would like to thank Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation colleagues for their cooperation in securing the additional traffic rights,” Mr. Majali concluded.
Gulf Air operates a combination of narrow and wide body aircraft on these routes. The flight schedules are as follows:
Bahrain - Jeddah- Bahrain
| Days of operation | Flt no | Dep Bahrain | Arr Jeddah | Dep Jeddah | Arr Bahrain |
| Monday,Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday | GF171/172 | 0955 | 1230 | 1330 | 1535 |
| Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday | GF173/174 | 1750 | 2025 | 2125 | 2330 |
| Additional flights with effect from 01 March 2012 |
| Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday | GF169/170 | 0115 | 0340 | 0540 | 0755 |
Bahrain - Riyadh -Bahrain
| Days of operation | Flt no | Dep Bahrain | Arr Riyadh | Dep Riyadh | Arr Bahrain |
| Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday | GF161/162 | 1000 | 1115 | 1340 | 1450 |
| Saturday | GF1151/1150 | 1550 | 1705 | 1805 | 1915 |
| Tuesday, Friday | GF151/1150 | 1550 | 1705 | 1805 | 1915 |
| Wednesday, Sunday | GF263/1150 | 1550 | 1705 | 1805 | 1915 |
| Monday, Thursday | GF263/150 | 1550 | 1705 | 1805 | 1915 |
| Friday | GF163/164 | 2020 | 2135 | 2235 | 2345 |
| Tuesday, Sunday | GF163/264 | 2020 | 2135 | 2235 | 2345 |
| Additional flights with effect from 01 March 2012 |
| Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday | GF165/166 | 0800 | 0915 | 1015 | 1125 |
| Sunday | GF161/162 | 1000 | 1115 | 1340 | 1450 |
| Wednesday, Saturday | GF163/164 | 1550 | 1705 | 1805 | 1915 |
Source: Gulf Air