Gulf Air took delivery of the two 67-seater Embraer E-170 AR aircraft which will be deployed on routes including Larnaca, Istanbul, Athens, Erbil, Baghdad, and Muscat.
The aircraft made its inaugural flight to Larnaca yesterday following a Press conference at the Gulf Air lounge at Bahrain International Airport.
Speaking at the ceremony, the airline's Chief Executive Officer Samer Majali explained that the addition of the aircraft - with a further 2 expected to arrive in the summer - would provide Gulf Air with the flexibility to introduce a greater choice of destinations for time-conscious business travellers.
'My aim is for Gulf Air to serve every Arabian capital and regional capital with at least two services everyday. This objective can become a reality with the size, reliability, comfort and unbeatable economics of regional jets like the ER-170', he said.
'This brand-new 67-seat airplane is fitted with luxurious interiors furnished with all-leather seats and no middle seating, offering exceptional comfort in a two-class configuration.
The aircraft's highlight is a state-of-the-art entertainment system which offers up to 3,000 video and audio titles at the touch of a finger.
It is part of a long-running plan to rejuvenate Gulf Air's aging fleet, most recently with the addition of seven Airbus A-320s and retiring older planes such as several Airbus 340s.
'Gulf Air is leasing the two Embraer aircraft on a three-year contract. When that concludes we simply returns them as to avoid us building up liabilities which can be a problem,' Majali added.