Gulf Air

Gulf Air maintains a strong commitment to safety, reflected in its certifications and recent operational history.

The airline has a solid recent safety record, with no numbered significant incidents involving passenger fatalities listed by AirSafe.com since 2000. Historically, Gulf Air experienced two notable fatal incidents: a Boeing 737-200 crash near Abu Dhabi on September 23, 1983, attributed to a bomb in the baggage compartment, killing 111 of 117 occupants; and a Gulf Air A320-200 crash near Manama, Bahrain, on August 23, 2000, during a missed approach, resulting in 143 fatalities. More recent, non-fatal incidents listed by AeroInside include events like a runway incursion, engine shutdown in flight, bird strikes, and loss of cabin pressure, indicating that the airline publicly reports minor operational occurrences.

Gulf Air holds important regulatory certifications. It has successfully and continuously completed the internationally recognized IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) since 2005, renewing its registration every two years. This certification confirms its adherence to strict international safety standards across various operational areas, including flight operations, maintenance, and ground handling. Furthermore, Gulf Air has consistently completed the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) audit since 2005, which authorizes the airline to perform maintenance on its Airbus A320 and Boeing 787 fleets, ensuring compliance with European civil aviation regulations. There is no information suggesting Gulf Air is on the EU safety blacklist.

The airline operates a relatively modern fleet, with an average age of 7.4 to 8 years, reflecting its ongoing fleet modernization strategy. Its EASA certification for maintenance underscores a strong reputation for maintaining its aircraft to high safety and quality benchmarks.

Based on available data, Gulf Air's overall safety assessment is positive. Airline Ratings gives Gulf Air a 7/7 safety rating. Its consistent adherence to international safety audits like IOSA and EASA, coupled with a relatively young fleet and no major fatal incidents in over two decades, demonstrates a strong commitment to operational safety. In terms of safety awards and recognitions, Gulf Air received the Skytrax Five Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating in 2022 for its enhanced health and hygiene protocols during the pandemic. More recently, in November 2024, it was awarded the APEX Five Star Global Airline award, partly recognizing its efforts to enhance passenger experience and the transformation of its premium cabins. The airline's station at Chennai Airport also received the "Least Number of Safety Incidents" award in May 2024.