Manama: Gulf Air has signed a strategic joint venture with premium leisure airline beOnd, targeting growth in high-end travel through Bahrain.
The agreement was signed on Tuesday at the Bahrain National Theatre in the presence of Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Dr Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Gulf Air Group chairman Khalid Taqi, and senior aviation officials.
The partnership starts operations in December. It brings together Gulf Air’s long-established network with beOnd’s all-business-class leisure model.
beOnd, which holds a Bahrain-based Air Operator Certificate, will offer a private jet-style experience. Gulf Air, carrying about 6.4 million passengers a year, will connect this product across its network.
“This partnership represents a model of how both airlines can collaborate to unlock high value and deliver tangible economic benefits for both carriers, as well as Bahrain”, Dr Shaikh Abdulla said.
He said the plan fits Bahrain’s target of reaching 100 destinations by 2030.
Gulf Air chief executive officer Martin Gauss said, “Gulf Air has spent 76 years earning trust, but today we are taking a step into a segment we have never entered. We are positioning Bahrain as a premium hub for the world’s most discerning travellers. This is not just an opening for aviation; it is about ecosystems that nurture innovation”.
beOnd CEO and chairman Tero Taskila said, “Through our partnership with Gulf Air, beOnd is proud to play a part in that future, bringing a differentiated, all-premium leisure experience to Bahrain and connecting the kingdom to the travellers it deserves", he said.
The agreement includes a code-sharing arrangement, allowing passengers to book travel across both airlines in one itinerary.
Officials expect the partnership to carry between 2,000 and 4,000 premium passengers in 2026, with projections rising to tens of thousands annually by 2030.
The offering combines Gulf Air’s Falcon Gold service, with upgrades to be detailed next month, and beOnd’s all-flatbed cabin layout.
Dr Shaikh Abdulla described the agreement as a result of “national vision, commercial strategy, and regulatory support” working together to strengthen Bahrain’s role as a global aviation gateway.