Gulf Air welcomes first A320neo
Following its delivery from the Airbus factory in Toulouse, France the aircraft will service a number of regional routes within the Gulf Air network. With Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer Mr Krešimir Kučko and representatives from Airbus on board, the A320neo received a water canon salute as it taxied to the terminal and was welcomed at Bahrain International Airport by a delegation of VIPs, dignitaries, government and aviation industry representatives and media members. The aircraft is first of the 12 A320neo aircraft ordered during the 2016 Bahrain International Airshow. This delivery also makes Gulf Air the first national carrier to fly the A320neo in the Middle East and Africa region.
Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer commented: “We are delighted to welcome the airline’s newest aircraft and proud to be the first national carrier in the region to operate the A320neo. The history is repeating itself, as we were the first in the region to receive the A320 aircraft in 1992. We have a strong network in the region with multiple daily flights to 10 regional cities and the addition of A320neo into our fleet will strengthen our position in our market. The relationship we have with Airbus is very strong and we continue to work closely with them to further develop our fleet and products to maintain customer satisfaction”.
The airline’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer said: “As we welcome this new aircraft to our base in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we invite our loyal customers to come onboard and enjoy the experience of flying the A320neo. A peak travel period is upon us and I feel glad to receive this aircraft right before Eid break as people travel for holiday. This is a great milestone for Gulf Air”.
Gulf Air’s A320neo (new engine option) is the most advanced A320 version as Airbus continues to invest over 300 million Euros a year in innovation and upgrades for the A320 family to maintain its position as the most advanced and fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft family. Featuring the widest single aisle cabin in the market, the new aircraft is equipped with LEAP-1A engines from CFM International and feature large wingtip devices known as Sharklets. The A320neo produces 5,000 tonnes less CO2 emissions per year per aircraft and nearly 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.
Earlier this year Gulf Air received hree Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner aircraft as it continues its major fleet development project which will see by end of 2023 a total of 39 new aircraft: 10 Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner, 12 Airbus A320neo and 17 Airbus A321neo aircraft.
Today, Gulf Air operates double daily flights or more to select destinations across the GCC, MENA region, Indian Subcontinent and Europe while its network spans the GCC, MENA region, Indian Subcontinent, Europe and the Far East.
