Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int’l) has applied for a US Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) and exemption to launch direct services between Bahrain Int’l and undisclosed points in the United States.
The Bahraini flag carrier said in its US Department of Transportation (DOT) application that it planned to launch flights as soon as it received the clearance. It acknowledged that Bahrain has not yet completed its certification under the FAA International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. Although the assessment is underway, Gulf Air said that in case it obtains the FACP before the audit is finalised, it would seek to serve the US via a wet lease or code-share. Such agreements do not require FAA Category 1 assessment.
The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Gulf Air’s long-haul fleet currently comprises seven B787-9s with a further five on order. However, the jets are not equipped with a crew rest and are thus unsuitable for ultra-long-haul transatlantic services.
Gulf Air was initially planning to launch services to the US in 2021, contingent on the necessary fleet developments, but later suspended these plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, it explored using Larnaca as a fifth-freedom hub for its US flights. Last month, Cyprus and Bahrain signed a revised air services agreement which now grants Bahrain’s airlines 5th freedom rights to all EU member states via any Cypriot airport.
In a November 2021 interview, Chief Executive Waleed Abdulhameed Al Alawi told ch-aviation that the airline was still evaluating US routes but was noncommittal on a timeline.
Texel Air (XLR, Bahrain Int’l) and American aerospace and defence contracting company Sierra Nevada Corporation announced the establishment of a strategic alliance, which will include a new SPV to raise funds for the airline’s growth.
The Memorandum of Understanding outlined the plan to raise capital for fleet expansion and facility investment by Texel Air, although the parties did not disclose any further details. SNC’s Chief Executive Fatih Ozmen said that the carrier’s business plan based around the B737-800(BCF) was very promising for further growth not just in the Middle East but also in “other global markets in the already vibrant ACMI business”.
The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that Texel Air currently operates one B737-300(F), two B737-700(FC)s, and two B737-800(BCF)s. It recently signed a commitment for a further two -800(BCF)s with deliveries due in 2023. The privately-owned airline also partners state-owned Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int’l) (which does not operate any in-house freighters).
Just days earlier, Texel Air’s domestic rival MENA Cargo Airlines (MA, Bahrain…
Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int’l) and Texel Air (XLR, Bahrain Int’l), a Bahrain-based cargo carrier and maintenance repair organisation (MRO), have agreed to explore cooperation on charter agreements, as well as engineering and maintenance activities.
In a joint statement on April 4, 2022, the companies said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed last month by Gulf Air Acting Chief Executive Officer Waleed AlAlawi and John Chisholm, Chairman of Chisholm Enterprises, the parent company of Texel Air.
“We are always looking to discover ways to enhance our commercial partnerships and to get involved in every related sector of the aviation industry,” commented AlAlawi.
Chisholm said the partnership came at a time of “remarkable developments in the aviation industry”. “This sees partners in the region join together to enhance business relationships and in turn provide better services and offerings of real benefit to our customers,” he added.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, operates a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including seven B787-9s with…
Emirates (EK, Dubai Int’l) has announced that it will relaunch its second cargo hub at Dubai World Central airport on March 26, 2022, nearly two years after it consolidated all freight operations at Dubai Int’l due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the growth of Emirates’ passenger network and operations, as well as the progressive increase in cargo volumes, Emirates SkyCargo will once again structure its operations across two hubs in Dubai,” the airline said.
All of the carrier’s dedicated freighter operations will move to Dubai World Central, while Dubai Int’l will continue to handle cargo transported in the bellyholds of passenger aircraft. The airline consolidated all of its operations at Dubai Int’l at the end of March 2020 to “streamline cargo operations between its freighter flights and the new dedicated cargo flights being offered on Emirates’ passenger aircraft fleet”.
The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that the carrier’s dedicated freighter fleet comprises ten B777-200Fs with a further two on order from Boeing.
While Dubai World Central is a…
Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int’l) and logistics giant DHL Express have agreed to explore joint commercial, technical, and cargo opportunities.
The partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the details of which were not disclosed, in Bahrain on January 24, 2022.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Gulf Air’s acting chief executive officer, Waleed Al-Alawi, said: “We are always keen to explore ways to enhance our commercial partnerships and to get involved in every related sector of the aviation industry. Logistics is an integral part of our day-to-day operations, and we are extremely impressed with the services provided by DHL. We look forward to embarking on mutually fruitful relations.”
For his part, DHL Express MENA Chief Executive Officer Nour Suliman said the agreement was well-timed as the aviation industry recovered and COVID-19 restrictions gradually eased.
According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Gulf Air’s fleet comprises a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, including eleven A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, six A321-200Ns, four A321-200NXs, and seven B787-9…
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