Gulf Air orders 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners as it seeks to expand network

US Commerce Secretary values deal at $7 billion

Boeing said it reached an agreement that would see Gulf Air purchase 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with the option to buy an additional six. Reuters

Gulf Air on Thursday announced an agreement to purchase 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with the option to buy an additional six as the airline looks to expand its global network.

Boeing said the agreement, once finalised, would bring Gulf Air's order book of the wide-body jets to 14 and support 30,000 jobs in the US.

“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.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick valued the deal at $7 billion.

“This agreement reflects that American industry and tech are second to none. Our Made-in-America commercial aircraft are the most advanced and efficient in the world, and the world knows it,” he said in a post on X.

The announcement follows Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa's meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington earlier this week.

The agreement is part of broader investment commitments announced by Bahrain and the US on Wednesday.

Aircraft deals were also part of trade accords Mr Trump announced earlier with the UK and Vietnam.

"We're very happy to be announcing $17 billion worth of deals that are coming to the United States. And this is real,” Prince Salman said.

Gulf nations are keen to boost their trade and economic ties with the US. The latest flurry of agreements from Bahraini companies comes two months after Mr Trump's visit to the Gulf region, when Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE also announced aircraft deals.

Qatar Airways's order for 210 jets from Boeing is the largest order for 787 Dreamliners, Boeing said at the time,

Earlier on Wednesday, Gulf Air announced it would begin flights from Bahrain to New York's John F Kennedy Airport beginning in October. The airline carrier will be deploying the Boeing 787-9 jets for the long-haul flight.

Gulf Air currently flies to 60 destinations. It hopes to increase its network by 25 per cent within five years. The Manama-based carrier seeks to expand its presence in financial hubs, leisure markets and major pilgrimage centres.

The announcement mirrors that of the one announced by Mr Trump on Tuesday, when he said Indonesia has also agreed to purchase 50 Boeing jets as part of a trade deal between the two countries.

Gulf Air is also considering switching away from Rolls-Royce to General Electric to power its wide-body aircraft, Bloomberg reported.

Gulf Air chief executive Jeffrey Goh had warned that the UK engine builder must find a quick solution to its durability issues.

The carrier has had to reduce its flight frequencies and also delay or cancel some flights due to engine issues, he said.