Gulf Air Launching Nonstop Flights to New York in October

Updated: July 16, 2025, 10:07am CDT

Edited by:

Jump to Section

Table of Contents

Gulf Air Returns to North America
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Gulf Air, the Kingdom of Bahrain’s flag carrier, announced that nonstop flights connecting Manama (BAH) to New York (JFK) would begin on October 1, 2025.

“This service aligns with Gulf Air’s strategy of calibrated expansion and serving strategic markets, providing passengers with greater choice and convenience for travel, through Bahrain International Airport, between Bahrain and North America, and beyond, supporting the connectivity strategy of the Kingdom,” said Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Gulf Air.

Here’s what you need to know.

Gulf Air Returns to North America

Gulf Air will fly 3 times weekly between Manama and New York (JFK). The airline will operate its long-haul Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which feature 26 lie-flat business class seats and 256 economy seats.

The airline will initially base its operations at JFK’s current Terminal 1 but plans to transition to JFK’s new Terminal One in June 2026.

Gulf Air Boeing 787 — Image Credit: Slava Taukachou via Unsplash

Bahrain is a small country in the Middle East situated on the Persian Gulf. Gulf Air has a solid presence in the region, as well as Europe, Asia, and Africa, with nonstop service offered to cities like Paris (CDG), Shanghai (PVG), and Cairo (CAI) from its Manama hub.

It’s been a busy year for the airline. In May, Gulf Air launched nonstop flights to London Gatwick (LGW), complementing its existing service to London Heathrow. And in June, the airline restarted flights to Nairobi (NBO), a route it hadn’t served since 2012.

Still, this is a strategic move for Gulf Air, which marks the airline’s return to the North American market. The new route will be the first direct flight from Bahrain to the U.S. in almost 3 decades. The new route will allow people to connect directly between the 2 cities, as opposed to having to lay over in Europe or the Middle East.

Unfortunately, if you’re looking to book a flight, it seems you’ll have to wait a bit longer. We don’t see the route available yet on Gulf Air’s website or Google Flights.

Hot Tip:

When flights do become available, you’ll be able to redeem Air Canada Aeroplan points on Gulf Air, thanks to a recent Air Canada and Gulf Air partnership. Etihad Guest members can also earn points on Gulf Air flights.

Final Thoughts

Gulf Air will resume flights to North America this fall, with service to New York commencing in October. This is exciting news because it offers yet another option for nonstop flights to the Middle East. We’ll keep an eye on the route and will update this post when flights are live!