Gulf Air Adds Six Bahrain–London Round Trips and 1,700 Seats Each Way Ahead of Formula 1 Grand Prix



Additional flights to Heathrow and Gatwick scheduled for March 11 and 15, 2027, as Bahrain prepares to host the Formula 1 season opener and its first-ever Sprint race.

Manama – Bahrain – Al Rehla

Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced six additional round-trip flights between Bahrain and London, providing approximately 1,700 extra seats in each direction ahead of the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled to take place at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir from March 12 to 14, 2027.

The expansion aims to provide greater travel flexibility for racing fans, teams and international visitors attending the opening round of the 2027 Formula 1 World Championship.

Additional Flights to Heathrow and Gatwick

Gulf Air confirmed that the additional services will operate on March 11 and 15, 2027, serving London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

With these additional services, the airline's announced Bahrain–London schedule will increase to 18 round-trip flights during the relevant operating period, with up to five daily flights on peak travel days.

The carrier confirmed that the additional seats are available for booking through its official website, mobile application and authorised travel agents.

Bahrain to Open the 2027 Formula 1 Season

Bahrain International Circuit will host the opening round of the 2027 Formula 1 World Championship, marking the seventh time the Kingdom has staged the season-opening race.

The upcoming event will also feature Bahrain's first-ever Sprint race, introducing an additional competitive element to the three-day Grand Prix weekend.

The circuit is also scheduled to host pre-season testing from February 24 to 27, 2027.

Enhanced Air Connectivity Supports Event Tourism

Gulf Air's decision represents a targeted increase in airline capacity during a major international sporting event, providing additional travel options for passengers arriving in and departing from Bahrain.

Hotels, transportation providers and hospitality businesses may benefit from visitor activity associated with the Grand Prix.

However, the actual economic impact will depend on confirmed visitor numbers, accommodation bookings and tourist spending.

Al Rehla Perspective | More Travel Options to Bahrain

The additional flights will allow Formula 1 fans travelling from London to arrive in Bahrain ahead of the race weekend and return the day after the Grand Prix concludes.

Al Rehla recommends checking flight availability and schedules before booking and coordinating airline tickets with race admission and accommodation arrangements, particularly during peak travel dates.

Travellers should also verify current ticket prices for the Bahrain Grand Prix rather than relying on early-bird promotional rates that expired in October 2026.