beOnd has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Bahrain’s aviation regulator to explore establishing a Bahrain-based premium airline, the carrier and officials confirmed this week. The move is projected to create roughly 1200 direct jobs in the GCC, the announcement says.
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1200 jobs in GCC
The LOI states the Bahrain operation would generate more than 1200 direct, high-skilled jobs across the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Reports released with the agreement put the number of supported indirect roles at about 6,000 in tourism, hospitality, logistics, and related services.
“We are delighted today to sign a partnership agreement between the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and BeOnd, and we were pleased to have BeOnd present with us during the launch of our national aviation strategy of the Kingdom of Bahrain,” said His Excellency Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa
Fleet and basing plan
The company said it intends to base up to 10 premium-configured aircraft in Bahrain by 2030 as part of the planned operation, targeting leisure and business routes to Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East.
Projected economic contribution
Company and government figures published with the LOI estimate the initiative could add about USD 1.2–1.5 billion to Bahrain’s economy over the first five years of operations.
“Establishing a Bahrain-based airline is a natural next step in our multi-jurisdictional strategy. Together, we have the opportunity to build a premium aviation platform that strengthens connectivity, develops specialised talent, and supports innovation across the travel value chain,” said Tero Taskila, CEO of beOnd.
Official agreement line
The LOI — signed between the carrier and Civil Aviation Affairs — sets out intentions to pursue a Bahrain Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and form a local subsidiary as the legal base for a Bahrain-registered operation. The joint announcement was issued in mid-February 2026.
