Have any of you read the comments of Jamil Wafa as reported in the GDN on Sunday.
Gulf Air Needs a Fresh Start
Some of the comments in this piece are very hard hitting and critical of Gulf Air. Most of what he says is bang on correct but critisisms of this level have never been published in any Gulf newspaper before.
Jamil Wafa is not some pissed of business man with a grudge against Gulf Air but is in many ways an aviation insider in Bahrain.
Why these comments have been published just 1 day before a GA board meeting has been the point of some discussion here. It is speculated, that the owning states are about to wind up Gulf Air. The board meeting has asked the owning states to pay $272.5 Million in order to recapitalise GA just as Mr. Wafa has said. The owners have said they will decide by April 30.
If the owners decide to wind up Gulf Air then Bahrain and Abu Dhabi will need to start up their own airlines. Mr. Wafa is involved in the stalled Dilmun Air project which would effectively become Bahrain Air.
The informed speculation here has suggested that, he has been given tacit approval to publish his remarks as a way of softening up the blow if and when it does come.
I think that the adverts for A320 pilots are in line with the stated policy to increase the shorthaul particularly around the gulf but the owners may not allow the policy to be implemented.
Next week will be interesting!!
