The daily service will commence operations on December 5, 2014, and will offer enhanced travel connections between Thiruvananthapuram and the Middle East, where Gulf Air holds a strong position with double daily flights to more than 10 regional cities.

The two additional weekly frequencies between Bahrain and Thiruvananthapuram will operate on Mondays and Wednesdays departing Bahrain at 13:30 to arrive into Trivandrum International Airport at 20:35 and departing Thiruvananthapuram at 21:20, arriving in Bahrain International Airport at 23:45.

We first revealed details of Gulf Air's plans to grow the frequency of the Bahrain - Thiruvananthapuram route on our Airline Route blog over a month ago on October 14, 2014.

The carrier has strengthened its position in the Indian market recently, by resuming flights to Hyderabad, with five weekly flights commencing December 15, 2014.

“Following a successful year since the re-launch of our direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram in December 2013, we are delighted to announce our increased frequency that follows consistently strong passenger demand, with an average of 85 per cent seat factor.”

Ahmed Janahi
Gulf Air Acting Chief Commercial Officer

Along with the latest daily services to Thiruvananthapuram, Gulf Air operates 10 weekly services to Chennai, double daily flights to New Delhi and Mumbai, and daily flights to Kochi, as well as the upcoming five-weekly service to Hyderabad. Overall, the national carrier provides a total of 57 weekly direct and full service flights between India and Bahrain.

"Following a successful year since the re-launch of our direct flights to Thiruvananthapuram in December 2013, we are delighted to announce our increased frequency that follows consistently strong passenger demand, with an average of 85 per cent seat factor," said Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commercial officer, Gulf Air.

"Kerala's capital city will be serviced with daily Gulf Air flights in order to meet travellers' needs, particularly those of the region's 5.6 million-strong Indian community, further reinforcing the strong historic ties between Bahrain and Kerala and our airline's key role in encouraging two-way travel, trade, tourism and investment opportunities," he added.

Gulf Air previously served the Bahrain – Thiruvananthapuram market between April 2007 and July 2010 but suspended its flights while it completed a review of its operational network and restructuring of the business. The route, also flown by Air India Express, was picked up by Bahrain Air in June 2012 but its flights ended in February 2013 when the carrier closed down. At the same time Air India Express ended its own operations and it was not until Gulf Air resumed its own services in December 2013 that flights resumed on the route.

According to our analysis, Gulf Air carried approximately 55,000 passengers on the route during the first nine months of 2014 with average loads from Bahrain of 85.6 per cent and an amazing 96.4 per cent from Thiruvananthapuram. It is clear from the chart, below, that Bahrain Airport has become an important transit point for passengers flying to and from the Indian city with 74.0 per cent of passengers connecting in Bahrain to and from other destinations. The local traffic accounts for around 26.0 per cent of demand during this period.

Data provided by