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FARNBOROUGH — At the beginning of the 2026 edition of the Farnborough Airshow, we sat down with Martin Gauss, CEO of Gulf Air (GF), to learn more about his plans for the Bahraini airline.
Gauss was appointed CEO of the Bahraini flag carrier in September 2025, taking office in November and replacing Jeffrey Goh, former Star Alliance CEO.
The move to GF comes after a long tenure at airBaltic (BT), where he was pivotal to transforming the carrier into the powerhouse it is today, marrying the A220-300 as its sole platform and becoming the first Starlink-equipped operator in Europe.
At the Dubai Airshow, GF finalized a firm order for 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with options for three more units. Gulf Air introduced Starlink in May and is planning to retrofit its fleet in the future.
Regional airspace closure
In his first eight months in office, Gauss dealt with growing geopolitical instability in the region due to the war in Iran. On the topic, Martin explained:
"The airspace was closed for 40 days, during which we successfully relocated operations to Dammam, Saudi Arabia. After the ceasefire, we cautiously resumed operations in Bahrain and have since restored our full schedule. While occasional regional events may cause temporary delays, we continue flying our entire network. Our on-time performance has improved into the 90% range, and our operational reliability is strong. The strategy remains unchanged - we'll continue managing disruptions as they arise."
Fleet and network
Gulf Air currently operates a mixed Boeing and Airbus fleet. Gauss confirmed that the airline remains satisfied with the Boeing 787-9 as its largest aircraft type and is now operating all ten of its Dreamliners. Looking ahead, Gulf Air is evaluating aircraft that can efficiently serve lower-demand markets.
“We're looking at all aircraft that make sense for Gulf Air. We're not excluding anything, but this will be subject to the final strategy, which we haven't announced yet. We are interested in something that is on the lower side of the capacity,” Gauss said.
He added that while introducing a new aircraft type could bring operational and training complexities, it may also offer economic and technological benefits.
“Introducing a new aircraft type adds fleet complexity because it requires dual type ratings for crews. At the same time, it could offer cost and technology advantages. We're evaluating those factors and will make an announcement when the timing is right.”
Gulf Air expects two additional Boeing 787-9s to join its fleet in early 2027. Gauss expects 16 aircraft to be equipped with Starlink connectivity before the end of the year, with the Boeing 787 fleet to follow pending certification in 2027. The airline will also retire some of the Airbus A320ceo.
On board, the Dreamliners are equipped with the Apex suites, one of the most spacious business class products in the world. This comes at the expense of seat count. Gauss told us:
“It's a disadvantage in terms of seat count, but it's also a major advantage because we're offering a level of space in business class that few other airlines do. When you combine that with enhanced service elements - whether it's the dining experience, pajamas, or other amenities - the product feels closer to first class, even though it's sold as business class,” Gauss said.
"That suits Bahrain well. The country has a relatively high proportion of premium travelers despite its smaller population, so the product fits our market. Of course, I'd like to have a few more seats, but changing the cabin configuration or ordering new aircraft isn't something we're considering just for that."
Gulf Air has observed very high load factors on its recently introduced flight to New York (JFK). Gauss mentioned Bahrain's seamless connectivity experience, one of the fastest in the region. Gulf Air is focusing on large airports, maintaining a 60/40 balance between connecting and point-to-point traffic. The airline counts 53 destinations across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, with the clear ambition to connect more global hubs.
A dedicated premium economy cabin is also under consideration at Gulf Air.
Airline alliances
The topic of airline alliances always pops up for airlines that are yet to join one of the three global alliances. Gauss mentioned:
"It's a topic that's always discussed, but there's nothing to announce today. It would be premature to say we're looking at one alliance or another. I can't rule it out in the long term, as it may eventually make sense, but it's still under evaluation.”
"We're very happy with our current strategy of expanding our network through codeshare partnerships, which provides a strong alternative to joining an alliance. It's simply too early to say whether alliance membership is the right move for Gulf Air," Gauss continued.
Featured image: Boeing
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