Bahrain Air daily non-stop flights on Mumbai–Bahrain route launched

Bahrain Air, the low-cost national carrier of Bahrain, has announced the launch of its daily non-stop flights between Mumbai and Bahrain. This move comes as a result of Bahrain Air’s plans to expand in the Indian subcontinent. Mumbai is Bahrain’s third Indian route destination after Kochi and Kozhikode.

Bahrain Air will use the A319 for its operations on the Bahrain-Mumbai route. The A319 has 12 premium class seats and 120 economy class seats.

“If required, we will start operating A320 (Seat Capacity: 12 Premium Class + 150 Economy Class) in future on this route,”  Schellens clarified.

The Bahrain-Mumbai flight 2B517 will leave from Bahrain International Airport at 23:00 and arriving at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 04:40.

On the return leg, Flight 2B518 will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM) at 05:30 arriving to Bahrain at 06:50.

Bart Schellens, Director – Commercial Operations, Bahrain Air confirmed the airlines’ intentions of expanding in India, “Starting non-stop services from Mumbai, the largest financial hub of India to Bahrain, is part of our strategic outlook for the Indian market and we are bullish about the growth prospects here.”

He added that along with the labour traffic that accounts for 80 per cent of its passengers, the airlines was also receiving increased response from business, tourists and religious segment (20 per cent) from India.

Bahrain Air started its operations in India with the launch of its Bahrain-Kochi flights in May 2008. Since then the airline has encountered heavy passenger traffic on the Kochi-Bahrain route.

The airline is also planning to increase the flight frequency and the number of destinations in order to attract more passengers visiting the Gulf.

Bahrain Air is waiting for the Ministry of Civil Aviation to approve the request of increasing the number of destinations.

Mr. Ashok Fenn, President & CEO, InterGlobe Air Transport said, “It gives me great pleasure in taking our association with Bahrain Air to the next level. As partners, we have successfully launched two destinations in India last year and we look forward to strengthening our relationship with this third launch in Mumbai.”

Bahrain Air started its commercial operations in February 2008 with 18 destinations in the GCC, the Levant, Africa, Iran and India. The airline has a fleet of eight A319 and A320 aircraft and is planning to add four more aircraft to its fleet.