Gulf Air has agreed to buy eight more Boeing 787 Dreamliners during a visit to the US by Crown Prince and Economic Development Board (EDB) chairman Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The deal takes the number of these aircraft on order for Gulf Air to 24.

The Crown Prince, who was visiting Seattle as part of a business trip to the US, was received by Boeing's senior management and given a tour of the facility where he was shown a range of aircraft.

He was briefed on Boeing's plans to increase co-operation with Bahrain and other Middle East countries and he said this latest deal was a reflection on Boeing's trust in the plans and strategies of the Bahraini national carrier, recognising it as one of the leading airlines in the region.

The upgrading of the Gulf Air fleet was an important strategy towards enhancing the status of the company.

The Crown Prince was accompanied during his visit by EDB chief executive Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain's ambassador to Washington, Huda Noono, the Crown Prince's court head, Shaikh Khalifa bin Daij Al Khalifa, his personal secretary Shaikh Abdullah bin Isa Al Khalifa, Mumtalakat chief executive and Gulf Air chairman Talal Al Zain and Gulf Air deputy chief executive officer Ismail Karimi. - TradeArabia News Service