Gulf Air receives first A320neo

FLIGHT DASHBOARD BY: DAVID KAMINSKI-MORROW LONDON

Middle Eastern carrier Gulf Air has received its first Airbus A320neo, following a delivery flight from Toulouse.

The aircraft (A9C-TA) is the first to be handed over to a flag-carrier in the region, says Gulf Air.

Kuwaiti budget carrier Jazeera Airways took the first A320neo in the Middle East earlier this year.

Gulf Air’s aircraft – one of 12 on order – touched down on Bahrain’s runway 30R at around 16:00 on 18 August.

“History is repeating itself, as we were the first in the region to receive the A320 aircraft in 1992,” says chief executive Kresimir Kucko.

The carrier will use the twinjet, which is powered by CFM International Leap-1A engines, on regional routes.

Gulf Air also has orders for 17 of the larger A321neo, and its fleet modernisation has included taking three of its 10 Boeing 787-9s this year. The 39-jet renewal will be completed in 2023.