Bahrain Airport Back Open: Flights Resume As Airspace Restrictions Lifted After 40 Day Closure

Crystal Travel | Travel News | 13 April 2026

Flights Resume as Bahrain Reopens Airspace After Extended Closure

Flights to Bahrain are Back

Bahrain International Airport has reopened to commercial flights following the lifting of a 40-day airspace closure, bringing considerable relief to travellers across the globe — including thousands of British passengers whose holiday and business travel plans were thrown into disarray over recent weeks.

The Kingdom of Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA), under the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, officially confirmed the reopening of Bahraini airspace on 8 April 2026. The closure had been in place since 28 February 2026, enforced as a precautionary response to escalating military tensions across the wider Gulf region. Bahrain took a notably cautious approach, keeping its airspace shut until a formal ceasefire arrangement had been reached — a decision widely regarded as a measured, safety-first stance by aviation authorities.

Gulf Air Gets the Ball Rolling With 13 Restored Routes

Bahrain's national carrier, Gulf Air, moved swiftly following the CAA's authorisation, confirming the resumption of limited flight operations from Bahrain International Airport on 8 April 2026. Services have been restored across 13 international routes spanning the Gulf, South Asia, East Africa, and Europe. Reinstated destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, London Heathrow, Nairobi, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Dhaka, Islamabad, Lahore, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Khalid Taqi, Chairman of Gulf Air Group, confirmed the airline was pleased to resume limited operations and looked forward to progressively restoring its full scheduled commercial network from Manama in the weeks ahead.

Heathrow Route Resumes

Good News for British Travellers as London Heathrow Route Returns

For UK passengers, the standout development is the reinstatement of the direct Bahrain–London Heathrow route, operating three flights per week. This puts Bahrain back within comfortable reach of British travellers flying for business, leisure, or onward connectivity into the Gulf and South Asia.

During the closure, Gulf Air had temporarily shifted operations to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia — approximately 85 kilometres from Manama — running a reduced schedule to keep key international routes ticking over. Those Dammam services are continuing alongside the Bahrain restart through the end of April 2026, offering additional flexibility for passengers during the transition period.

Not Quite Business as Usual Just Yet

Whilst the reopening is welcome news, travellers should be aware that things are not fully back to normal. The ceasefire underpinning the airspace reopening is currently agreed for two weeks, meaning the situation remains fluid. Most major international carriers, including British Airways, have not yet confirmed when they will return to Bahrain, leaving Gulf Air as the sole airline operating scheduled services from the airport at present.

Bahrain Airport Company, which manages and operates the airport, has confirmed it is working closely with all aviation partners to ensure a safe and efficient return to full operations, with passenger safety remaining the overriding priority throughout.

What You Need to Know Before You Travel

Passengers with upcoming trips to or through Bahrain should bear the following in mind. Gulf Air is offering refunds for travellers holding tickets with original travel dates up to 15 April 2026. Affected passengers can also rebook free of charge onto any Gulf Air service through to 30 June 2026. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is currently advising against non-essential travel to Bahrain, so British passengers are strongly encouraged to check the latest government guidance before confirming any bookings.

As Bahrain gradually returns to full operations, travellers are advised to stay informed, book flexibly, and check the latest updates before heading to the airport.

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