Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) will buy at least twelve incremental B787s, with an option for six more. The agreement, confirmed on July 17, is a part of USD17 billion investment package from Bahrain in the United States, Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa announced during a meeting with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

The deal also includes the sale of forty General Electric engines, representing a move away from Rolls-Royce. As ch-aviation previously reported, Gulf Air, like many airlines, has faced Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine shortages, resulting in one of its B787-9s having been grounded for nearly two years.

ch-aviation has contacted Gulf Air for more details of the new order.

The announcement follows Trump’s earlier trip to the Middle East and adds to a series of regional investment pledges, including USD1.2 trillion from Qatar and USD600 million from Saudi Arabia.

Gulf Air currently operates a widebody fleet of ten B787-9s (with two more to be delivered at the end of 2026 and in 2027) powered by Rolls-Royce engines. Its narrowbody fleet comprises eight A320-200s and four A321-200s with CFM International CFM56 engines, plus seven A320-200Ns, nine A321-200NX, and five A321-200NX(LR)s with LEAP-1A engines.

During the prince’s US visit, Gulf Air also announced a new direct flight to New York JFK, starting October 1, using a B787-9.