Minutes before the start of the first Formula 1 race of the season on 2nd March 2024, a Gulf Air Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft took flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). The iconic flypast took place amid a crowd of 37,000 attendees on race day.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the title sponsor of the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2024, celebrated its long-term partnership of two decades as the official title sponsor of the Bahrain Grand Prix, the favourite international car race event. Gulf Air has been the title sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix since its momentous inception in Bahrain back in 2004 and has helped transport millions of motorsport enthusiasts to the Kingdom from across its international network, allowing them to attend this fan-favourite sporting event that spearheaded Formula One’s presence in the Middle East and GCC regions.
For the fourth consecutive year, the 787-9 Dreamliner soared 500 feet above Bahrain International Circuit (BIC). The flight was operated by three highly skilled Bahraini pilots; Captain Yousif Akbari, Captain Ghazi Humaidan, and Captain Nabeel Khonji.
Furthermore, the national carrier demonstrated its commitment to community initiatives by making a significant contribution to this season of F1 racing. As part of this effort, the airline extended a special invitation to 20 members of the National Karting Team, all aged between 12 and 16 years, to actively participate in the second and third days of the prestigious Formula One event. Gulf Air collaborated with several prominent national companies to organize informative tours for these young participants at the renowned BIC.