Gulf Air's Passenger Numbers Soar

The increase in Gulf Air flights to and from Bahrain and Oman following the airline’s introduction of a two-hub strategy earlier this year has produced record passenger numbers at the airline’s key hubs.

Gulf Air's passenger figures for the year till August 2006 recorded a 31% increase to 4.7 million passengers through the two hubs, compared to the same period last year.

“Our original studies predicted growth in the region of 25%,” said Gulf Air Vice President Network Fareed Al Alawi.

“It is very pleasing to note however that the numbers have jumped by nearly a third over this period.

“In the first quarter we recorded growth of 24.1% in Bahrain and 20.6% in Oman. However, when the full impact of the two-hub model came into effect with the summer schedule in the second quarter, the growth increased to 41.3% and 39% in Bahrain and Oman respectively.”

Passenger numbers in Bahrain for July and August increased by 153,437 from 707,105 in 2005 to reach a record 860,542 passengers for the same period.

Gulf Air traffic now accounts for 68.4% of the activity at Bahrain International Airport. During July and August Gulf Air flights through the airport increased by 31.9% to 6,570.

In Oman, a similar trend is evident, and passenger numbers over Seeb International Airport increased by 122,887 from 331,137 in 2005 to 454,024 for the period July and August 2006, while flights increased 50.1% to 3,478.

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