Gulf Air resumes flights to Lebanon

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, on Sunday resumed flights between Bahrain and Lebanon more than two months after a ban was imposed on 22 March.

The ban followed a government advisory urging Bahraini citizens against visiting Lebanon, Iraq and Iran, due to claims that Iran and Lebanese guerrilla group Hizbollah were involved in Bahrain’s unrest.

“A 70-seater Embraer aircraft from Beirut landed at the Bahrain International Airport at 2.45pm,” said an airline official.

“We have seen a lot of enthusiasm among passengers who are now booking to fly to and from the Lebanese capital.”

Meanwhile, flights to and from Iraq and Iran will continue to remain suspended until 30 June, the official said.

Gulf Air flies to Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil and Basra in Iraq, as well as Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz in Iran.

Bahrain Air earlier said it would resume flights to Beirut on June 22 with five flights a week, but those to Iraq and Iran would remain suspended.