Gulf Air Group (GFG) reported strong 2024 results across its subsidiaries, including Gulf Air, Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), and Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA), citing significant growth in passenger traffic, network expansion, strategic partnerships, and training.
Gulf Air significantly expanded its network and forged key partnerships in 2024. The airline introduced new seasonal and structural routes, contributing to a 5.4 per cent increase in passenger numbers, with 6.2 million passengers carried in 2024, up from 5.9m in 2023.
Bahrain’s national carrier forged 23 new or renewed partnership agreements with leading airlines, expanding its codeshare network to 20 partners, including a new agreement with Azerbaijan Airlines, and increasing unique codeshare destinations by 10 through an expanded partnership with Thai Airways.
The airline added six new destinations: AlUla (seasonal), Shanghai and Guangzhou, Mykonos/Rhodes (seasonal), Geneva (seasonal), and Munich. Services also resumed to Baghdad and Najaf, with increased frequencies to Doha, Muscat, Manchester, Milan, Rome, and Singapore.
Two new A321NEO aircraft joined the Gulf Air fleet, bringing the total to 42.
Bahrain International Airport (BIA), operated by BAC, welcomed 9.4m passengers in 2024, a 7.3pc increase from 8.7m in 2023.
Total flight movements reached 98,596 (49,282 arrivals and 49,314 departures). Cargo operations grew by 11.2pc to over 390,000 tonnes.
The report also noted that the first phase of the Express Cargo Village has begun with the development projected to increase annual capacity from 360,000 to 1.3 million tonnes.
BIA welcomed Fly Jinnah, Iraqi Airways, and Ajet, and received industry accolades, including a 5-Star Skytrax rating for the fourth consecutive year, ‘Airport Operator of the Year for Medium Size Airport,’ ‘Aviation Sustainability Award,’ and the Skytrax ‘Best Airport Staff in the Middle East 2024’ award.
Gulf Aviation Academy (GAA) strengthened its training capabilities through a partnership with Riyadh Air for cabin crew training, ANAC accreditation from Brazil, and the introduction of state-of-the-art B737 and B787 full flight simulators.
GAA partnered with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earned ISO 9001:2015 certification, and received an ‘Outstanding’ rating from Bahrain’s Education and Training Quality Authority.
A new training agreement with Dammam Airport Company (DACO) expanded its regional reach.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
Top stories for today:
Europeans talk up more defence spending as Ukraine plan divides
212 traders pledge to keep Ramadan prices stable
Medical team congratulated on landmark success
Follow us on LinkedIn - Gulf Daily News - GDN
&uuid=(email))