I heard from a GF management guy: fleet renewal in two steps:
1st Step: short term :
In the short term, they have to quickly replace the aging B767 so they might go for 340s (or 330 but as you mention earlier capacity is not the same)... and these airplanes might come "soon" (within the next 3 years as you mentionned)
2nd Step: long term :
Commitment to one manufacturer and 2 types of airplane, no more short haul airplane. it might be B787 / 777 (no 737) or A350 / A330 (no more 320). This will happen around 2010.
Future will be interesting. I read also that they aim at having 45 airplanes by 2010, is that 45 total, or 45 new airplanes?
Also I think they are about to refurbish the 340s with the "award wining" A330 Business and First Class, thanks to our Chartered Union Bank loan.
I was amazed to read in GDN, that Gulf Air newly appointed Board President(M. Kanoo) did not deny that GF could get in the future some oil subsidies ... After all every airline in the gulf is getting cheap or free oil so why not gulf air?
anybody heard about these rumours ?
BD