Gulf Air Opens Year-Round Bahrain-Kuala Lumpur 787 Service

Gulf Air has started direct flights between Bahrain and Kuala Lumpur. Its first flight, GF158, arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on 1 October 2026.

Malaysia Airports, which runs KLIA, said the route uses a Boeing 787-9 and will run three times a week all year. Gulf Air is now the 10th Middle Eastern airline flying to KLIA.

A route launched for a race

The first flight arrived just before an unusual event for Bahrain’s national airline. Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix since Formula 1 first came to the Middle East in 2004. This year, from 2 to 4 October, the race was held at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Gulf Air says it is the first time the Bahrain Grand Prix has been held outside the Kingdom.

The flight gave fans a direct way to reach the race. But both Gulf Air and the airport say the route will stay after race weekend. Malaysia Airports also links it to Visit Malaysia 2026, the country’s tourism campaign this year, and expects it to bring in more visitors.

Before the first departure, Gulf Air Group Chairman Khalid Taqi hosted Malaysia’s ambassador to Bahrain, Dato’ Shazryll Zahiran, at Bahrain International Airport. In Kuala Lumpur, the flight was welcomed by:

• Datuk Haji Hasbi bin Haji Habibollah, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Transport
• Dr Waleed Khalifa Al Manea, Bahrain’s ambassador to Malaysia
• Gulf Air executives and airport officials

Malaysia Airports managing director Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani welcomed Gulf Air’s commitment to flying the route all year. He said both KLIA terminals were ready for the extra traffic expected during the race and the tourism campaign. Measures include managing passenger flows and coordinating with airlines and government agencies.

How it compares

Three flights a week is a modest start compared with what rival Gulf hubs offer. Qatar Airways’ winter schedule includes 18 weekly flights from Doha to Kuala Lumpur from 25 October, plus 14 weekly flights by its oneworld partner Malaysia Airlines.

Gulf Air is betting on the direct link between the two countries, its Bahrain hub, and its long connection with Formula 1. Malaysia Airports says passengers from Bahrain and the wider region can also connect at KLIA to domestic destinations such as Langkawi, Penang, Sabah and Sarawak.

The route also follows a strong month for Gulf Air’s operations. On 10 September, the airline said Cirium ranked it first in the Middle East for on-time performance in August 2026. It also placed among the leading airlines in OAG’s report for the same month.