Gulf Air Nears New Aircraft Order Amid Delivery Challenges

Gulf Air will announce a significant new aircraft order “soon” as the Bahrain flag carrier looks to expand and modernize its fleet.

However, ongoing global supply chain disruptions and delivery delays are posing substantial challenges, according to Gulf Air Group CEO Jeffrey Goh.

Goh indicated that the airline is actively evaluating its widebody fleet needs and expects to finalize a decision shortly, with Boeing 787-8 and 787-10 aircraft understood to be under consideration. “Given the global supply chain, the queue is long, and we need to time it in such a way that it aligns with our expansion and replacement needs,” he told Aviation Week.

Gulf Air currently has orders for 10 Airbus A320-family aircraft scheduled for delivery by 2027, along with two 787-9 widebodies expected in 2026. However, Goh noted that these delivery schedules are subject to change, depending on ongoing global supply chain issues.

“The global supply chain since the pandemic has been a chronic challenge,” he said at the recent Routes World 2024, which was held in Bahrain. “The major challenge, as the entire industry is facing, is the availability of aircraft.”

Goh emphasized that while the narrowbody fleet is well positioned for the coming years, the widebody fleet is where Gulf Air sees potential for expansion or replacement. However, the decision comes as the carrier contends with the broader industry challenge of aircraft availability, which has also impacted growth targets.

Goh confirmed that Gulf Air had planned for a 14% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers, but delivery delays have forced the airline to revise this target downward to an 8-10% increase.

“Globally, we are looking at around 700 aircraft, both narrowbody and widebody, grounded today because of engine issues,” he said. “I don’t think this situation is going to improve, at least for the next two to three years.”

Securing sufficient capacity will be crucial in shaping the airline’s future growth and its ability to meet increasing demand, Goh said, particularly in underserved markets like the U.S., China and Africa. He previously confirmed to Aviation Week that destinations in the U.S. are under consideration, pending aircraft availability and regulatory approvals.