Characteristics of Gulf Air
Gulf Air operates commercial passenger flights from its base in the Kingdom of Bahrain at the western edge of the Persian Gulf. The airline operates flights from the island nation to destinations in Africa, Asia and Europe, as of March 2011. Gulf Air offers two classes of service on its fleet of Airbus and Embraer aircraft. It also sponsors the Bahrain Grand Prix, the Oman national soccer team, and the Queens Park Rangers Football Club in England.
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History
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Established in 1950 as the Gulf Aviation Company, Gulf Air adopted its current name in 1974. In 1973, the governments of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar became major shareholders, making the airline the flag carrier of all four states. The government of Bahrain assumed full control of the airline in 2007. Gulf Air was the first international airline to land in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the first Arab airline to fly to Australia. As of March 2011, it had a three-star ranking from Skytrax, an airline industry research consultancy that provides rankings from one to five stars. A three-star ranking means airlines meet a satisfactory but inconsistent standard of service and products.
Fleet
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As of March 2011, Gulf Air's fleet consisted of 34 aircraft, including Airbus A330, A340, A321, A320 and A319 aircraft, and Embraer E-70 and E-90 aircraft. Some Airbus A330 and A340 aircraft are configured with lie-flat, sleeper seats in first class for long-haul flights from Bahrain to Bangkok, Thailand; Frankfurt, Germany; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; London, England; and Paris, France; as well as regional flights on an ad-hoc basis. Gulf Air plans to operate 24 Boeing 787 aircraft, with the first aircraft to be delivered by 2018-19, according to its website.
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Destinations
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As of March 2011, Gulf Air flies to 45 cities in 28 countries from its main hub in Bahrain International Airport, approximately four miles northeast of the capital Manama. In 2009, the airline re-launched flights to Iraq and will begin new routes to Geneva and Milan in March 2011. The airline maintains codeshare agreements with several airlines, including Air India, American Airlines, KLM, Oman Air, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Thai Airways International.
In-Flight Services
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Gulf Air aircraft feature two classes of services: Economy Class and Falcon Gold Class. Falcon Gold, Gulf Air's first class product, features lie-flat seats on long-haul flights. On all long-haul flights, the Sky Chef service provides an on-board chef in both classes to prepare dishes and help passengers chose from European and Middle Eastern meal options. The Sky Nanny service helps families traveling with children from the departure gate and throughout the duration of long-haul flights. Duty Free and in-flight entertainment, including seat-back televisions, are also provided on board.
Baggage Allowances
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All checked bags weighting up to 30 kilograms (approximately 66 pounds) for economy travel and 40 kilograms (approximately 88 pounds) for Falcon Gold Class travel can be checked for free on Gulf Air flights. On codeshare flights, the number of checked baggage may be limited. For example, on codeshare flights operated by American Airlines, passengers are permitted to check up to two bags with a total weight not exceeding Gulf Air's free allowance. In addition to one carry-on bag and a personal item, small animals can be brought into the Gulf Air aircraft cabins.
Other Services
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Gulf Air tickets can be purchased from the airline's website, through a travel agent, or with a partner airline. Passengers can check-in to flights through Gulf Air's website, or at the airport using self-service kiosks or with ticket agents. Falcon Gold passengers and Gold and Silver members of Gulf Air's frequent flyer program can use lounges at airports in Bahrain, Dubai, and London. The newest lounge at London's Heathrow Airport opened in March 2011 and features lounge and dining areas, a business centre, self-service buffet area, showers and a locker storage area. Gulf Air's Frequent flyer program allows travelers to earn loyalty points and miles, which can be exchanged for free travel or upgrades on future flights.
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References
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