Bahrain's Gulf Air to buy up to 50 Airbus planes

PARIS — Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air is planning to buy up to 50 Airbus aircraft. Information Minister Isa Abdul Rahman Al Hammadi said the massive new contract was discussed between Bahrain's King Hamad and French President Francois Hollande during a meeting in Paris.

"Gulf Air met with Airbus and discussed the airline's future narrow-and wide-body fleet requirements, up to 50 aircraft," the minister added in an interview.

"Discussion will be finalised by the end of the year and an announcement will be made during the Bahrain International Air Show", which takes place in January 2016.

The two leaders discussed several "mega-projects" the minister indicated, as the Gulf island state plans to build a new airport terminal and a second causeway linking it to Saudi Arabia.