Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) is actively considering adding B787-8s or B787-10s, the group's chief executive officer, Jeffrey Goh, told Aviation Week, adding that a decision on an order with Boeing could be made soon.
The Bahraini carrier is more interested in the double-aisle segment “as we have a healthy number of narrowbodies [on order],” he told the digital publication.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows Gulf Air currently operates a fleet comprising 41 aircraft, including eight A320-200s, six A320-200Ns, four A321-200s, nine A321-200NX, four A321-200NX(LR)s, and ten B787-9s. It has orders for 12 additional planes (six A320neo, four A321neo(LR)s, and two B787-9s).
Goh said Gulf Air expects to receive an additional narrowbody this year and half a dozen next year, with two additional B787s in the pipeline, without specifying when they would arrive.
The state-owned carrier has recently been under fire about its financial position. “We’re hoping that this will be a better year than last year in terms of passenger numbers and financial performance,” Goh said.
ch-aviation has reached out to Gulf Air for comment.