Gulf Air logs 80% return to 2019 levels: Bahrain

Gulf Air logs 80% return to 2019 levels: Bahrain

Gulf Air is currently running at 80 per cent seat load factors having achieved 80pc restoration of 2019 levels in terms of passenger numbers, the airline’s chief executive has said.

Addressing a Press conference on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) World Passenger Symposium at the Gulf Hotel Bahrain, Convention and Spa, Captain Waleed Al Alawi said yesterday that it was heartening to see the recovery of the aviation sector gaining momentum after the difficult years of the Covid-19 pandemic, despite headwinds like high inflation, high fuel prices and the conflict in Ukraine.

The top official said he was in agreement with IATA’s expectation of the overall industry getting back to 2019 levels by 2024.

The load factor is a metric used in the airline industry that measures the percentage of available seating capacity that has been filled with passengers.

Declining to provide details on the upcoming launch of new destinations, Capt Al Alawi said Bahrain’s national carrier was on track with expansion plans in keeping with its boutique strategy

“We are going to see a resumption in deliveries of the Airbus A320neo jets and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners we had ordered earlier, with at least one narrow-body jet joining the fleet this