Gulf Air (GF) is the flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The airline has long held a unique position among Middle Eastern airlines. Gulf Air is one of the oldest carriers in the Gulf region. The airline was founded back in 1950.
Gulf Air carries a legacy of pioneering air travel in the Middle East, even before the rise of giants like Emirates and Qatar Airways (QR).
The airline is headquartered in Muharraq, and its primary hub is at Bahrain International Airport. Gulf Air continues to play a vital role in connecting Bahrain to major cities across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Gulf Air, A9C-TD, Airbus A320-251N, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87337872Gulf Air’s Busiest Routes
Let’s take a detailed look at Gulf Air’s ten busiest international routes in 2025, based on weekly one-way seat capacity. Each of these routes reflects the airline’s strategic focus, ranging from dense Gulf region traffic to long-haul premium segments.
1. Bahrain – Dubai
The busiest international route operated by Gulf Air in 2025 is the high-frequency Bahrain–Dubai corridor. This route clocks in at an astounding 53 flights per week — more than seven flights per day. The flights are operated using a mix of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.
With a staggering weekly one-way seat capacity of 8,384, this route shows the importance of business and leisure travel between two key Gulf financial hubs. Dubai remains a favorite destination for holidays and transit, while Bahrain is gaining prominence as a financial services center. Gulf Air competes with several carriers in this sector, so maintaining high frequency is vital to retain premium passengers.
2. Riyadh – Bahrain
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Gulf Air, A9C-CC, Airbus A321-231, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65933841The second spot belongs to the Riyadh–Bahrain route, which sees five daily flights, totaling 35 per week. Gulf Air operates this sector using a combination of three daily A321neo flights and two daily A321-200s. This combination helps the airline offer passengers the right balance between capacity and comfort.
This route serves both business travelers and a growing segment of leisure and religious passengers. The total one-way seat capacity a week reaches 6,398, making it one of the strongest intra-Gulf routes in the airline’s network.
3. Bahrain – Jeddah
In third place is the Bahrain–Jeddah route, served with four flights daily. Gulf Air uses a hybrid approach here — one flight daily with the A321neo and three with the older A321-200. With 4,893 weekly seats in one direction, this route plays a critical role in serving pilgrims heading to Makkah and Madinah via Jeddah, especially during the Umrah and Hajj seasons.
The route also benefits from robust demand from business and family travelers. Gulf Air ensures a seamless and frequent schedule on this sector to stay competitive.
4. London Heathrow – Bahrain
Breaking into the long-haul segment, Gulf Air’s London Heathrow–Bahrain route now ranks as the fourth busiest international sector in its network.
With two daily flights operated exclusively by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, this prestigious European route offers a premium experience with lie-flat business class seats, in-flight entertainment, and top-notch catering.
The route boasts a total of 3,948 weekly one-way seats. It serves a wide variety of passengers — from Bahraini nationals and business travelers to British expatriates and tourists.
Gulf Air’s consistent Dreamliner deployment signals its continued investment in this legacy route, which has long been one of the carrier’s crown jewels.
5. Dammam – Bahrain
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – Gulf Air (Retro Livery), A9C-FG, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87549465A uniquely short but very high-demand route, the Dammam–Bahrain link clocks in fifth with 28 weekly flights, or four flights per day. All operations on this route are conducted using the Airbus A320-200.
While the distance is minimal, the traffic volume is considerable due to business, family visits, and transit passengers flying beyond Bahrain.
With 3,808 one-way weekly seats, the route represents a textbook example of how regional air links can still be powerhouses in terms of frequency and importance.
6. Bahrain – Doha
In sixth place is the Bahrain–Doha connection, operated 27 times weekly — roughly four times daily. The flight operations in this sector are entirely operated with the Airbus A320-200.
With a total weekly seat count of 3,672, this route has been significant since the normalization of Bahrain–Qatar diplomatic relations.
The two Gulf capitals are linked not only by shared cultural ties but also by increasing corporate and governmental exchanges. Gulf Air has reinstated this route as a strategic short-haul connector in its network, helping funnel passengers into its wider regional and European destinations.
7. Bahrain – New Delhi
Gulf Air’s strong presence in India is evident in its New Delhi operations, which take the seventh spot on the list. The airline flies twice daily to India’s capital city using the A321neo, resulting in a weekly one-way seat count of 2,688.
India continues to be a cornerstone market for Gulf Air, with Delhi serving as one of the key nodes for business and VFR (visiting friends and relatives). The efficient A321neo offers a modern and comfortable experience on this mid-haul sector.
8. Bahrain – Mumbai
Photo: Anna Zvereva | FlickrJust behind Delhi is the Bahrain–Mumbai route, which is also served twice daily. However, this route is operated using a blend of aircraft — 10 weekly flights with the A321neo and four with the older A321-200, culminating in a one-way weekly seat count of 2,596.
Mumbai, as India’s commercial capital, attracts high volumes of travelers ranging from corporates to students to migrant workers. The route benefits from consistent demand and supports strong yields in both business and economy cabins.
9. Bahrain – Bengaluru
Ninth on the list is another Indian route – the Bahrain – Bengaluru (Bangalore) sector. Gulf Air flies to this South Indian tech hub twice a day. One daily flight is operated by the A321neo and another by the A321-200. This route accounts for 2,527 one-way seats per week.
Bengaluru’s growing prominence in the IT and startup ecosystems has made it a high-value market for business travel. Gulf Air’s presence on this route reflects not only commercial interest but also strong VFR traffic. There is a significant Indian diaspora based in Bahrain and neighboring Gulf countries.
10. Bahrain – Cairo
Closing out the top ten is the Bahrain–Cairo route, which is served twice daily. One flight is operated by the A321-200 and the other by the A320neo, contributing to a total of 2,135 one-way weekly seats. Cairo is one of the busiest and most culturally significant destinations in the region.
Gulf Air connects Bahrain and Egypt with a reliable schedule that supports everything from tourism and student travel to governmental and trade links. Given the high population of Egyptians working in the Gulf, this route will likely remain a key performer.
Photo: BoeingBottom Line
Gulf Air’s top international routes in 2025 reveal a network that balances high-frequency regional travel with carefully chosen long-haul markets.
Routes to Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah dominate in capacity and frequency, showcasing the strength of intra-Gulf business and religious travel. Meanwhile, flights to cities like London, Delhi, and Mumbai reflect the airline’s broader strategic goals in Europe and South Asia.
In 2025, Gulf Air operates a fleet of 42 aircraft, comprised of the narrow-body Airbus A320 family (including A320neo and A321 variants) and the wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. An additional 11 aircraft are on order.
Today, the airline connects passengers to 61 destinations across 30 countries, maintaining a reputation for premium service and consistent regional connectivity.
The use of a diverse yet efficient fleet — particularly the versatile A321neo and the fuel-efficient Boeing 787-9 enables Gulf Air to right-size its operations while delivering a consistent product across segments.
Whether it’s the short hop to Doha or the transcontinental journey to London, Gulf Air continues to maintain its relevance in a highly competitive regional aviation landscape
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Gulf Air Makes New Changes For Flights to India for Summer 2025
The post Gulf Air’s Top 10 Busiest International Routes in 2025 appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
