All passengers arriving into Bahrain must declare to the airline and to the airport authorities if their point of departure was from any of the following countries/regions: China, Iran, South Korea, Iraq, Hong Kong, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Stated of America.
Passengers who have been in China, Iran, Iraq or South Korea at any point within 14 days of their arrival into the Kingdom of Bahrain will not be permitted entry into the Kingdom of Bahrain or to transit through Bahrain International Airport – exceptions are made for passengers with a valid “Prior Permission Granted” letter will need to be presented prior to boarding.
The authorities at Bahrain International Airport might conduct medical tests on passengers arriving from any of the affected areas if the Kingdom of Bahrain is their final destination. Passengers must comply with such tests and procedures such as filling health declaration forms and screening processes.
Gulf Air continuously coordinates with the relevant authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain and with airport authorities throughout its network to take all precautionary and preventive measures in order to ensure the safety and security of the citizens and residents of the Kingdom of Bahrain, along with its passengers and crew.
Immigration restrictions and travel advisory
Some countries including the Kingdom of Bahrain have imposed immigration restrictions due to the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 based on nationality or point of departure.
It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure they will be allowed entry to their destination and, as this information is changing quickly, to check relevant travel advisories before travelling or visiting; these can be found by visiting https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/international-travel-document-news/1580226297.htm
All foreigners and non-residents travelling into the Kingdom of Bahrain who have travelled to Lebanon, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand within 14 days of their arrival into the Kingdom of Bahrain will require a valid visa. Travellers who qualify for a visa on arrival will not be granted one if they have visited Lebanon, Japan, Italy, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia or Thailand within 14 days of their arrival into the Kingdom of Bahrain. Exceptions are made for passengers with a valid “Prior Permission Granted” letter will need to be presented prior to boarding.
Passengers who are unable to travel due to these immigration restrictions may request a refund upon provision of the following:
– Passport copy confirming nationality
– Copy of passport pages showing entry/exit visa stamps for any of the following countries/regions: China, Iran, South Korea, Iraq, Hong Kong, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United Stated of America.
A travel advisory has been issued for Bahraini citizens travelling to Iran, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea because of the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19, more details can be found by visiting: https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?tabid=7824&language=en-US&ItemId=12480.
The Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain urges all its citizens and residents who are currently in areas affected by the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 and who were planning to return to the Kingdom of Bahrain to call the following number +973 17227555.
Health and safety on board
The airline confirms that it is applying strict International Air Transport Association (IATA) disinfectant procedures inside the aircraft cabin and urges passengers to apply preventative measures recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) which can be found by visiting: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public. Find out more about our disinfectant procedures along with our health and safety measures by visiting: http://www.gulfair.com/on-board/health-safety-measures
Flight Disruptions
Suspension of flights to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Morocco
Last update: 15 March 2020 at 1030 Bahrain time
Saudi Arabia:
Gulf Air confirms that it is complying with the order of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 9, 2020 to temporarily suspend all flights.
Kuwait:
Gulf Air confirms that it is complying with the order of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in the State of Kuwait on March 11, 2020 to temporarily suspend all flights.
Pakistan:
In compliance with the order from the Civil Aviation Authority in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on March 13, Gulf Air has temporarily suspended flights to and from several airports in Pakistan effective from the 14th of March 2020 until the 31st of March 2020. Flights to and from Sialkot, Multan, Peshawar and Faisalabad will be suspended; flights operating to Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi will operate but on reduced frequencies in accordance with the order.
Lebanon and Iraq:
Gulf Air continues to comply with the order of the Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain on February 27, 2020 to temporarily suspend flights to and from Iraq and Lebanon further notice.
Morocco:
Gulf Air complies with the order of the Civil Aviation Authority in Morocco on 14 March to temporarily suspend all flights until further notice.
Passengers are urged to visit www.gulfair.com/flightstatus to check the status of their flights and ensure that their contact details are updated in the ‘Manage My Booking’ section on gulfair.com or on the mobile app.
The Gulf Air Contact Centre will be contacting affected passengers and assisting them accordingly. Passengers who have made their bookings through a travel agent are advised to get in touch with the agents directly regarding their rebooking and refund options. Furthermore, passengers should check the airline’s website before travelling or call the Gulf Air Contact Centre for more information on +97317373737.
The airline is experiencing higher than usual call volumes and may take more time than usual to answer customer calls. For further assistance, passengers may contact the airline on Facebook Messenger or through direct messages on Twitter. Gulf Air apologizes to its affected passengers for any inconvenience that this may have caused and is working closely with the concerned authorities.
Frequency Reductions
Last update: 15 March 2020 at 1500 Bahrain time
Gulf Air confirms that it is complying with the Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain order to temporarily reduce the flight frequencies for several destinations until further notice.
Passengers are urged to visit www.gulfair.com/flightstatus to check the status of their flights and ensure that their contact details are updated in the ‘Manage My Booking’ section on gulfair.com or on the mobile app.
Gulf Air is actively assisting passengers affected by the suspensions, and are in touch with them regarding alternative arrangements. Passengers who have made their bookings through a travel agent are advised to get in touch with the agents directly regarding their rebooking and refund options.
Passengers with tickets to/from destinations with reduced frequencies and temporarily suspended destinations
With the current global developments, travel plans might change and Gulf Air is offering unlimited changes without any change fees:
– Applicable to all tickets regardless of travel date
– Unlimited changes without any change fees for future departure dates on the same route
– Difference in fares may apply for the new departure dates
– No refund if fare on new departure date is lower
– Applicable to all fare types
– Changes can be made by visiting ‘Manage My Booking’ on our mobile app or gulfair.com (for tickets issued on or after 10th March) or by contacting the Gulf Air Contact Centre (for tickets issued before 10th March).
– Passengers who have made their bookings through a travel agent are advised to get in touch with the agents.
Tickets (including non-refundable tickets) may be refunded without penalty when there has been a Gulf Air schedule change where one or more of the following apply: 1) There is a change to an itinerary resulting in no comparable schedule being available within 24 hours of the originally scheduled departure or arrival 2) A change in the routing of a scheduled Gulf Air flight which adds one or more stops to the original itinerary.
