On the evening of 8 April, Bahrain’s airspace officially opened, the Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications confirmed. This major update comes weeks after the airspace had closed due to the regional conflict. With the opening of the airspace, Bahrain Airport has also begun a gradual resumption of flights.
The reopening follows a two-week ceasefire that has brought a measure of relief across the region after more than a month of sustained tension. While the ceasefire holds, essential services are resuming, movement is easing, and daily life in Bahrain is beginning to stabilise. The airport reopening is one of the most significant practical steps in that process.
BAC has confirmed that coordination is ongoing with airlines and operational partners to ensure a smooth and safe return to normal activity at the airport. This is a phased restart rather than an immediate return to full capacity, so schedules may shift as operations ramp up.
Passengers should check directly with their airline for the latest flight status and departure and arrival times before heading to the airport.
The opening of Bahrain’s airspace means Gulf Air is also resuming flight operations to and from the Kingdom. While this is limited to only a few routes, the airline’s current network from Bahrain covers 13 destinations.
Europe: London Heathrow [LHR]
South Asia: Mumbai [BOM], Delhi [DEL], Hyderabad [HYD], Islamabad [ISB], Lahore [LHE], Thiruvananthapuram [TRV], Kochi [COK], Dhaka [DAC]
Middle East: Dubai [DXB], Riyadh [RUH], Jeddah [JED]
Africa: Nairobi [NBO]
The South Asian network is notably extensive, with six routes into India, two into Pakistan, and one into Bangladesh. This reflects the high demand from Bahrain’s resident communities who have been waiting for direct travel options to resume.
With Bahrain’s airspace closed over the past few weeks, Gulf Air had shifted temporary operations to Dammam in Saudi Arabia. So if you’re meant to depart from Dammam by 30 April, the flights to these destinations are still operating from there.
Until 11 April: London Heathrow [LHR]
Until 12 April: Paris [CDG]
Until 26 April: Dhaka [DAC]
Until 28 April: Islamabad [ISB]
Until 29 April: Athens [ATH], Istanbul [IST], and Kochi [COK]
Until 30 April: Mumbai [BOM], Chennai [MAA], Thiruvananthapuram [TRV], Casablanca [CMN], Cairo [CAI], Nairobi [NBO], Bangkok [BKK], Frankfurt [FRA], Manila [MNL], and Lahore [LHE].
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With operations restarting in phases, confirmed timings and frequencies may differ from what you are used to. The simplest approach is to check your booking directly through your airline’s website or app before travelling to the airport.
For Gulf Air passengers, updates are available at gulfair.com and through the Gulf Air mobile app.
The two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has provided breathing room after a difficult period for everyone in the Kingdom and the wider region. Airspace closures, service disruptions, and restricted movement have defined daily life for weeks since the conflict began on 28 February. With the ceasefire in place, residents are seeing a return to normalcy across several fronts.
The airport reopening is the most visible change, but it sits alongside the broader resumption of services and routines that conflict had interrupted. It is worth noting that the ceasefire is time-limited, so the situation remains fluid. Staying informed through official channels is still important.
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