Airbus Updates No.3395

 

Bahrain's Gulf Air pushes back Airbus deliveries

Gulf Air Airbus A321neo© Gulf Air

21.05.2021 - 17:36 UTC

Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int'l) has agreed with both Airbus and Boeing to defer deliveries of unspecified aircraft originally due for handover in 2020 and 2021 by a matter of six to nine months, Chairman Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani told the media during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai.

al-Zayani did not go into any details about the types of aircraft affected.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Gulf Air has six A320-200Ns, six A321-200NXs, nine A321-200NX(LR)s,on firm order from the manufacturer. al-Zayani confirmed that even considering the new agreements with the manufacturers, the Bahraini flag carrier would still take six new aircraft in 2021, likely comprising three A321-200NXs and three B787-9s.

Former Chief Executive Krešimir Kučko told ch-aviation in September 2020 that the airline had decided to extend its ongoing narrowbody fleet renewal process through the end of 2026. Before COVID, it had hoped to retire all A320-200s and A321-200s by the end of 2023. It currently operates eleven and six units of these two types, respectively. Gulf Air has flexibility with its A320ceo as it owns most of the aircraft, except for three A320s and two A321s which are dry-leased.

In terms of its A320neo Family aircraft, Gulf Air has thus far taken delivery of six A320-200Ns and two A321-200NXs, all of which are dry-leased.

The carrier has already completed the retirement of its previous generation widebodies, having phased out the last A330-200 in late 2019.

Airbus Updates No.3082

 Airbus February orders and deliveries update

Airbus has logged eleven new orders, 32 deliveries and 92 cancellations in February and has moved into a net negative amount of orders for this year.

Last month, a single A330-200 was ordered by Airbus Defense & Space for conversion to a MRTT and an undisclosed customer ordered ten A320neos.

The manufacturer delivered:

• 1 A220-300 to Air Canada
• 1 A320neo to Air China (leased via BOC)
• 1 A350-900 to Air China
• 1 A320neo to Air Cote d'Ivoire
• 2 A321neos to All Nippon Airways
• 1 A321neo to Asiana Airlines
• 3 A320neos to China Eastern Airlines
• 1 A320neo to China Southern Airlines
• 1 A220-100 to Delta Air Lines
• 2 A321s to Delta Air Lines
• 1 A321neo to Gulf Air
• 3 A321neo to Indigo
• 1 A320neo to Jazeera Airways (leased via ICBC)
• 3 A321neos to Jetblue Airways
• 2 A320neos to Pegasus Airlines
• 1 A320neo to Shenzhen Airlines
• 1 A320neo to Sichuan Airlines (leased via CALC)
• 1 A320neo to SKY Airline (leased via ALAFCO)
• 2 A321neos to Spring Airlines
• 1 A320neo to Vietnam Airlines (leased via ICBC)
• 1 A320neo to Vistara Airlines (leased via Avolon)
• 1 A320neo to Volaris

The following was cancelled in February:

• 1 A220-300 by MacQuarie Finance
• 58 A320neos by Norwegian
• 30 A321neos by Norwegian
• 1 ACJ320neo by a Private customer
• 2 A350-900s by an Undisclosed customer

Another interesting thing in Airbus' February Orders & Deliveries was that the manufacturer unveiled that four Undisclosed orders for the A330-800 are destined for Garuda Indonesia. The Indonesian airline has now ordered for a total of sixteen A330neos; the four -800s and twelve -900s. So far, three A330-900s have been delivered.

Airbus now has logged this year a total of eleven orders and 92 cancellations, meaning it has a net total of -81 orders for 2021.

Airbus Updates No.2802

Gulf Air Takes Delivery Of Its First Airbus A321neo

Gulf Air has picked up its first Airbus A321neo aircraft, with the plane landing softly at its hub airport at Bahrain International (BAH). The carrier has another seven A321neo’s to be delivered, and nine Airbus A321LRs.

The A321neo as mocked up by Airbus back in 2016. Photo: Airbus

When was the aircraft delivered?

Airbus handed over the aircraft from Hamburg (XFW) to Bahrain International (BAH) overnight on the 21st/22nd of August. the flight was number Gulf Air 9000 (GF9000)

Photo: Flight Aware

Why did Gulf Air order the Airbus A321neo?

Gulf Air ordered the aircraft as part of a fleet upgrade for the carrier, with the A321neo set to compliment the replacement A320neos.

Commenting on the agreement in an Airbus press release, Gulf Air A/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Maher Salman Al Musallam said,

“I am delighted that we will enhance and simplify our fleet structure building on Airbus aircraft. This restructured order meets Gulf Air’s future fleet requirement and our network expansion plans. As a result, I now look forward to furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process while supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies.”

Onboard, the aircraft has 16 business class seats and 150 economy class seats, for a total of 166 seats. Those passengers familiar with the A320neo shouldn’t expect anything different. 

Airbus Updates No.2469

Gulf Air says goodbye to its last Airbus A330

Manama, Bahrain - Gulf state Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air said goodbye to its sixth and the last Airbus A330 aircraft with a special ceremony held at the Bahrain International Airport.

The aircraft joined the Gulf Air's fleet 19 years ago and served on the airline's long-haul routes during this time.

Gulf Air managers, flight and cabin crew members, and aircraft maintenance teams were present at the farewell event before sending off the aircraft on its final flight with the airline's colors.

Today we bid farewell to one of our historic flagship jets. This Airbus 330 aircraft served the national carrier for almost 20 years and supported our growth during the last 2 decades,

said Gulf Air’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. Krešimir Kučko during the event.

Gulf Air began the modernization of its widebody fleet in 2018 with the delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner jet. As of today, all long haul routes of the Gulf-based carrier are operated exclusively by seven Boeing 787-9s in the airline's fleet.

Three more widebody jets of the same type will join the fleet this year.

Gulf Air will take delivery of 39 new aircraft by 2023, including 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, 12 Airbus 320neo and 17 Airbus 321neo.

The airline's current fleet consists of 16 Airbus A320-200, six Airbus A321-200, five Airbus A320neo and seven Boeing 787-9.

Airbus Updates No.2458

Bahrain's Gulf Air confirms first A321neo due in 2Q20

Gulf Air Airbus A321-200 © Tis Meyer (PlanePics.org)

21.01.2020 - 00:41 UTC

Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain Int'l) has confirmed it will take delivery of its first A321-200neo in June this year, as the initial schedule for the new variant becomes clearer. One destination from Bahrain Int'l which will feature the new type will be the new 2x weekly service to Nice, that will be launched on July 2 using the 166-seat aircraft, according to a press release issued by the airline on January 15.

The Bahraini airline has eight A321neo and nine A321neo(XLR)s on order from Airbus, according to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module. Gulf Air accepted its maiden A320neo A9C-TA (msn 8323) into its fleet in August last year. It now has five of the variant in operation, working alongside its sixteen A320-200s, six A321-200s, a single A330-200, and seven B787-9s.

Referring to the airline's website, the new French city pair will be operated via Milan Malpensa until the end of August - the Italian route will only have been launched on July 1. An airline spokesperson also confirmed that there will be no further route announcements from the carrier for the upcoming season: "no this is it for Summer 2020."

ch-aviation analysis of the airline's schedule data shows Gulf Air will deploy the A321neo on the following routes out of Bahrain:

• Athens Int'l - starts June 15, but the type is currently scheduled to only operate to the Greek capital until June 27;
• Milan Malpensa - up to daily starting July 1;
• Riyadh - up to 3x weekly starting July 1;
• Nice - 2x weekly starting July 2;
• Dubai Int'l - up to 6x weekly starting August 14;
• Paris CDG - daily starting October 15.

Talking about the network expansion to Nice at the Kuwait Aviation Show 2020, Gulf Air's Chairman Zayed R. Alzayani said: “It is very exciting for our national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain to reach further places and connect multiple cities in the East and the West to its hub, Bahrain.”

He also added: “On the western side of our network map, and coinciding with our expansion in Europe in summer 2020, we will launch flights to Nice as a boutique destination catering to our premium leisure travellers. As we welcome our new A321neo...we will serve our European routes with a brand new aircraft featuring flat-beds and superior in-flight entertainment system for more enjoyable journeys with Gulf Air.” In terms of other destinations, Gulf Air serves in France, the airline currently operates a daily A320 service to Paris CDG.

Recently the airline also announced plans to operate flights to Mykonos and Munich as seasonal destinations with both city pairs starting in summer 2020.

Airbus Updates No.1450

Gulf Air orders 29 A320neo Family aircraft

Bahrain’s national carrier to upgrade its fleet with fuel-efficient single aisle aircraft

21 JANUARY 2016 PRESS RELEASE

As part of its fleet renewal strategy, Gulf Air has announced a firm order of 29 A320neo Family. The new order includes 17 A321neo and 12 A320neo of which 10 A320neo have been confirmed in 2012. The contract was signed today at the Bahrain International Airshow between Mr. Maher Salman Al Musallam, A/Chief Executive Officer, Gulf Air and Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer, in the presence of H.E. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, Kingdom of Bahrain and Mr Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad.

Gulf Air currently operates 28 Airbus aircraft; and the new aircraft will fit seamlessly into the airline’s current fleet, thanks to Airbus’ overall fleet commonality, its low operating costs, optimum fuel efficiency and best-in-class passenger comfort of any single aisle aircraft.

Commenting on the agreement, Gulf Air A/Chief Executive Officer Mr. Maher Salman Al Musallam, said, “I am delighted that we will enhance and simplify our fleet structure building on Airbus aircraft. This restructured order meets Gulf Air’s future fleet requirement and our network expansion plans. As a result, I now look forward to furthering Gulf Air’s fleet modernization process while supporting our network and overall passenger experience enhancement strategies.”

“We are pleased that Gulf Air has chosen the A320neo Family to complement its long-term growth strategy. The fuel efficient aircraft will provide the airline with a higher operational efficiency and profitability while its wider cabins will open a new dimension of passenger appeal,” said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus President and Chief Executive Officer.

The A320neo Family incorporates latest technologies including new generation engines and Sharklet wing tip devices, which together deliver more than 15 percent in fuel savings from day one and 20 percent by 2020 with further cabin innovations. With nearly 4,500 orders received from some 80 customers since its launch in 2010, the A320neo Family has captured a 60 percent share of the market.