The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, urged Gulf Air to establish a route between Bahrain and Dublin when he visited the Middle Eastern country last year, according to Gulf Air's chief executive, James Hogan.

Mr Hogan said yesterday that the new direct service, to begin early next month, is being created because there is "a market that wasn't being served".

The Gulf Air service will have three flights each week starting on December 2nd, but this could increase to meet demand.

Australia-born Mr Hogan, whose ancestors were from Ireland, said the route launch was coming after careful advance analysis.

"We saw strong traffic flows over Heathrow and Amsterdam from Dublin, going East. So we know there's a market there.

"We then had representation from the Civil Aviation Authority in Ireland and then when the prime minister [ Taoiseach] was out here.

"We felt that it was a market that wasn't being served, certainly Aer Lingus at that stage had no intention to fly East," Mr Hogan said.

Aer Lingus recently announced direct flights from Dublin to Dubai, starting next spring.

Mr Hogan said the Aer Lingus decision was welcome from Gulf Air's point of view.

"The announcement of Aer Lingus that they are going to operate to Dubai is good, because it means there will be much more focus on the region," he said.