Airline partnerships increasingly shape how travellers move between regions, especially when long journeys rely on well-connected hubs. For passengers flying between the Gulf and Europe, smoother transfers can make a significant difference to the overall travel experience.
Gulf Air has announced an expansion of its codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, adding new European and regional routes via Istanbul Airport. Confirmed on 22 December 2025, the move allows Gulf Air passengers travelling from Bahrain to connect through Istanbul to additional destinations across Europe and Türkiye.
Under the expanded agreement, Gulf Air customers can now connect via Istanbul to Budapest in Hungary, Prague in the Czech Republic, Venice in Italy, Vienna in Austria, and Rize on Türkiye’s Black Sea coast. The expanded partnership strengthens Istanbul Airport’s role as a major international hub while offering travellers more flexibility when flying between the Middle East and Europe.
The move builds on an existing collaboration between the two national carriers. By aligning schedules and sharing routes, both airlines aim to offer passengers a more seamless journey, with coordinated connections and a single travel itinerary across their combined networks.
More European choice through Istanbul
Istanbul has steadily grown into one of the world’s most important aviation crossroads, linking Europe, the Middle East and Asia. For Gulf Air, expanding access through Istanbul allows the airline to offer a wider European network without operating additional long-haul services on every route.
The newly added destinations include some of Europe’s most popular city-break locations. Venice and Vienna remain firm favourites for cultural travel, while Budapest and Prague continue to attract visitors with their historic centres and compact layouts. Rize adds a different dimension, offering access to Türkiye’s lush Black Sea region and appealing to travellers looking beyond traditional European itineraries.
Martin Gauss, Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Air, said “By expanding our codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, we are offering our passengers access to more destinations across Europe and Türkiye via Istanbul, providing greater choice and flexibility when planning their journeys. By using Istanbul Airport as a key hub and working closely with Turkish Airlines, we are able to make more cities accessible through a single, seamless travel plan. Our coordinated flight schedules are designed to deliver smoother connections and a more streamlined travel experience on these shared routes.”
For travellers departing from Bahrain, the expanded codeshare means more European destinations can be reached with just one transfer. Codeshare arrangements typically allow for through check-in and baggage transfer, reducing the need for separate bookings and making long-distance travel easier to manage.
Strengthening links between the Gulf and Europe
Turkish Airlines also benefits from the agreement, gaining stronger access to Gulf Air’s regional network and reinforcing Istanbul’s position as a global connectivity hub. The Turkish carrier already operates one of the world’s largest route networks, and partnerships like this help extend its reach further into the Gulf.
Bilal Ekşi, Chief Executive Officer of Turkish Airlines, said “We are pleased to further deepen our cooperation with Gulf Air through this codeshare expansion, which continues to strengthen Istanbul’s role as a leading global hub. We believe this enhanced partnership will provide added value to our guests through improved connectivity.”
The expanded agreement keeps Bahrain firmly at the centre of Gulf Air’s network while opening up more options for travel to Europe and Türkiye. Whether passengers are travelling for business or leisure, the partnership offers a broader range of routes and a smoother journey on shared services.
As airlines increasingly rely on collaboration to meet changing travel demand, the expanded Gulf Air and Turkish Airlines partnership reflects a wider industry trend. Strategic hubs such as Istanbul are becoming ever more important in connecting regions, offering travellers greater choice without additional complexity.
For passengers flying from Bahrain to Europe, the route map has quietly grown wider. With more destinations now accessible through Istanbul, the journey is set to become more flexible and, in many cases, more convenient.
