Gulf Air receives their first Airbus A320neo

MSN 8323, the first Airbus A320neo for Gulf Air has been delivered, making the airline the first flag carrier to operate the type in the region.

The aircraft, registered A9C-TA, is the first of 29 A320neo family ordered by Gulf Air. Of the 29, 17 are the larger A321neo. CFM LEAP-1A engines were chosen to power the fleet of aircraft.

Gulf Air received the aircraft on home soil at Bahrain on the 18th of August and was welcomed with a water salute, as seen in the following video:

The international greeting at @BahrainAirport for our first @Airbus #A320neo. Welcome home! pic.twitter.com/IeySq8aaCZ

— Gulf Air (@GulfAir) August 18, 2018

The airline remains proud of the fact that history is repeating itself as they were the first to receive the A320 in the region in 1992. The decision to take on the A320neos is primarily due to its commonality with the airlines older A320ceos.

Routes planned for the A320neo include regional ones, with flight times topping at about 4-6 hours.

Gulf Air is also refreshing their fleet with the introduction of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The 787s and A320neos are to pave the way to a fresh, efficient and comfortable fleet in the region.

All the new aircraft are expected to arrive up until 2023.