Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) has begun scheduled A320neo operations following the delivery of its first of the type on Saturday, August 18.

According to an airline statement, A9C-TA (msn 8323) entered into service on Sunday, August 19, and will be used to run select rotations from Bahrain International to each of Dubai International, Larnaca, Athens, Kuwait, and Beirut.

The Bahrain-based carrier has twelve CFM International LEAP-1A-powered A320neo due from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac). Under delivery timetables announced earlier this year, Gulf Air expects to add two A320neo in 2018 followed by four in 2019, three in 2021, and three in 2022. It is also due to add seventeen A321neo, the first of which is due in 2020.

Gulf Air is an existing operator of the A320 Family of jets with sixteen A320-200s and seven A321-200s currently in service.