British Airways has reversed plans to scrap flights to one of the UK’s key Middle East allies following an international outcry.
In a dramatic U-turn, the flag carrier last night said it would continue a direct service between London and Bahrain.
However, flights to the nearby country of Kuwait will still be suspended in late March, as previously planned, although this decision will be kept ‘under review’.
The announcement came after the The Mail revealed earlier this month that BA had planned to axe the routes after nearly a century despite both Gulf state’s long-standing ties to Britain.
BA had argued that flights to Bahrain and Kuwait were no longer commercially viable, leaving staff who have served on the routes at risk of losing their jobs.
But the plans caused an uproar, with Dr Liam Fox, who served as defence secretary under David Cameron, told the Mail that BA’s move would send ‘totally the wrong message’ about Britain’s diplomatic intentions while also harming UK business interests in the region.
Meanwhile, Bahraini officials were angered by the fact that they were not consulted by BA before it decided to scrap the route, while thousands of residents with close ties to Britain drew up a petition demanding that the decision be reversed.
Concerns were raised that Britain’s global influence could be reduced while straining relations with allies in the region. Bahrain is home to a Royal Navy base at the Mina Salman Port.
Dr Liam Fox (pictured), who served as defence secretary under David Cameron, told the Mail that BA’s move would send ‘totally the wrong message’ about Britain’s diplomatic intentions
British Airways has reversed plans to scrap flights to one of the UK’s key Middle East allies following an international outcry (file image)
But last night BA, which is owned by Anglo-Spanish airline conglomerate IAG, confirmed that the planned cancellation of the Bahrain route had been called off.
‘Following discussions with our partners and stakeholders, we can confirm we will operate a service between London Heathrow and Bahrain International Airport three times a week from the start of the Summer 2025 season.
This will increase to a daily service from the start of the Winter 2025 season,’ the carrier said in a statement. But it added that flights to Kuwait remained under review.
‘We are delighted to witness British Airways continue operations at Bahrain International Airport. As the oldest airline operating out of Bahrain for over 92 years, the enduring partnership with British Airways is a testament to our shared commitment to excellence,’ said Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah, head of the Bahrain Airport Company, which runs the country’s only international airport.
Imperial Airways, a predecessor to BA, launched flights to Bahrain in October 1932, marking the company’s first service to the Middle East.
Bahrain was a British protectorate for more than 100 years before it gained independence in 1971. Meanwhile, Kuwait became a British protectorate in 1899 and achieved independence in 1961.
The two countries have maintained deep ties with the UK, particularly in business.
London-based Standard Chartered was the first bank to set up shop in Bahrain in 1920 and helped establish it as a key financial centre in the region.
The flag carrier was looking to scrap direct services to Bahrain (pictured: capital Manama)
BA currently operates at least one direct flight from London to both Kuwait (pictured: capital Kuwait City) and the Bahraini capital Manama per day
Bahrain also plays host to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet as well as the Royal Navy base. It is the only Gulf country that is formally part of the US-UK coalition to protect shipping in the Red Sea following attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen in response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In the UK, Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, the Mumtalakat, owns Woking-based racing car maker McLaren. The Mail on Sunday reported earlier this year that the fund was planning to expand its British holdings through a series of investments, including in the north of England.
Britain is currently in the middle of negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, a trade bloc that consists of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to sign a free trade deal that could be worth £23.5billion a year.
Combined, they make up the UK’s fourth largest export market behind the US, the EU and China.
BA’s initial decision to scrap the routes comes as it struggles with ongoing issues with the Rolls Royce-manufactured Trent 1000 jet engines that power its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The airline is among several carriers including Virgin Atlantic that have had to cancel flights as disrupted supply chains make it harder to source spare parts for the engines.
Virgin’s flights to Tel Aviv were set to restart in March 2025 and a new route to Accra in Ghana was due to launch in May 2025.
But both journeys have been pushed back to late October 2025 at the earliest due to the debacle.
Rolls-Royce has blamed the disruption on the lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which it previously said has hit the entire aerospace industry.