Gulf Air to add up to 18 Boeing 787 Dreamliners to its widebody fleet

Gulf Air has made an order with Boeing to purchase 12 787 Dreamliner aircraft with options for six more as the Bahrain-based airline looks to further develop its international network.

Bahrain Minister of Finance and National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick joined Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope and Gulf Air Group Chairman Khalid Taqi to witness the signing.

Once finalised, the order will bring the carrier's firm order book to 14 of the versatile widebody jets and will support 30,000 jobs across the U.S.

"This agreement marks a transformative step in Gulf Air's strategic growth journey as we expand our global footprint and modernise our fleet with one of the industry's most advanced and efficient aircraft," said Khalid Taqi, chairman of Gulf Air Group. "The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has proven to be an exceptional aircraft for our long-haul operations, and this new order reflects our confidence in its performance, passenger appeal and contribution to our sustainability goals. We are proud to deepen our partnership with Boeing and reaffirm our commitment to positioning Bahrain as a key global aviation hub."

"We are excited to build on our more than 60-year partnership with Gulf Air as we deliver the market-leading 787 Dreamliner to help the airline serve more passengers and connect more destinations," said Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "This investment in the 787 Dreamliner demonstrates Gulf Air's commitment to new technology and sustainable development, reinforcing Bahrain's position in the aviation sector."