After 6 Years, First Passenger Flight From Qatar Lands In Bahrain

The first direct passenger flight from Qatar to Bahrain in six years touched down in Manana on Thursday.

Qatar Airways flight number QR1108 landed at Bahrain International Airport at just after 9pm on Thursday.

Two hours later, the return service marked the first direct flight from Bahrain to Qatar, to land at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

The flights mark the resumption of direct air travel between Doha and Bahrain after both countries’ state carriers agreed to resume flights.

Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing the country of supporting terrorism and interfering in the affairs of regional states, which Doha denied. Bahrain is the last of the nations to resume relations with Qatar following the AlUla Agreement in January 2021.

Qatar Airways now flies daily from Doha to Bahrain. Flights depart Qatar at 8pm, with a scheduled landing in Bahrain around 50 minutes later. Return services leave Bahrain at 10.20pm, with an estimated arrival time of 11.15pm in Doha.

From June 15, the national airline of Qatar will increase its services between the two destinations to three flights per day.

Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain, has also restarted flights between the destinations.

It is flying daily again to Doha, a route it first began flying in 1950.

From June 15, Gulf Air will also increase flights between the Gulf nations to three per day with Doha-bound services departing from Manama at 9.30am, 4.20pm and 8.35pm.

The resumption of flights between the destinations came after an agreement was reached earlier this year between the civil aviation authorities in Qatar and Bahrain.

Since direct flights last operated between the countries in 2017, both have developed their tourist offerings.

In Bahrain, the country has a brand new passenger terminal at its international airport and several new luxury hotels, including the Address Beach Resort Bahrain, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort & Spa.