hey chris,
I share some of your concern about Gulf Airs future. The competition is getting tougher: Qatar Airways will carry more passenger this year than GF... No need to say that they are dumping prices and get almost unlimited financial support ! GF has to react quickly!
I don't like to see the PCE leaving either, this will weaken the management and as a consequence will weaken employees commitment to the airline. At least with JH we had a vague idea about our goals. How long is it going to be before Etihad gets some SkyChefs and SkyNannys ? I would be interested to know if these marketing ideas have been 'copyrighted' ? By the way if JH is really going for Etihad, how is it possible that on his contract he didn't have a 'competition clause' i.e. ' PCE should not join any airline in the middle east region at least for 1 year after his resignation from GF' ?
Hopefully that british guy will come soon and establish a strong leadership... To be honest I even dont care who is coming, I just want him to be good for the company!
On the other hand I think, it is not an option for the Bahrain government to even think to close the airline. Think about it: the rate of unemployment will skyrocket! Gulf Air has no option but to GROW. As I wrote before competition is getting tougher. One way to achieve it would be to get some 'private investor' taking a share in the airline, that could be good and bring some fresh money. Did I say Saudi investor ? Why not. The saudi sky is not a monopole anymore in the hand of one state-owned airline, GF could in a way become one of the player in the saudi market...
I dont like also the ambiguous position of our co-owner the beautiful Sultanate of Oman. Oman Air was looking at buying long haul airplanes, how long is it going to take before they cancel their commitment in Gulf Air ? Maybe they will wait until we build that Million Dollar maintenance facility ? and then the story will repeat itself? did I mention GAMCO here?
Cheers
BD