Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national carrier, has reported significant growth in several areas of operation during 2009, a statement said.
The airline, which is currently celebrating its 60th anniversary, said despite the economic downturn that affected almost all business sectors, Gulf Air carried around 5.7 million passengers in 2009, which is slightly more than the number of passengers carried in 2008.
The Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPK) also showed a better performance by registering a 2.1 per cent growth. The overall flight punctuality also reached 82.5 per cent during the year registering an increase of 12.5 per cent over 2008. Technical Dispatch Reliability reached 98.1 per cent, well above the industry norms, said the statement.
The Board of Directors of the airline, which met today to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Gulf Air, unanimously approved the audited financial results for the year 2009, presented by chief executive officer Samer Majali.
Majali also presented a report for January and February 2010 during which period the company recorded impressive performance. The airline has made an overall cost-saving of 12.3 per cent, he said.
The seat factor has also registered a growth of 4.1 per cent for the two months when compared to the same period last year. Technical Dispatch Reliability for two months reached a commendable 98.8 per cent. The airline flew 870,000 passengers in these two months, the report said.
Majali said: “The performance results are a positive indication that our new strategy is working well and we are on the right track. We were able to reduce overall cost due to our careful forward planning, prudent cost-saving measures and efficient performance optimization and, of course, a great teamwork.”
He continued: “As we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee year, we are creating an airline for the next 60 years and beyond - an airline that offers excellence in quality and service as well as excellent value. Towards achieving this, we have launched several initiatives in recent months. The introduction of regional jets into our fleet is a major step in this direction, bringing a new dynamics to travel experience in the region; we will be able to offer more regional destinations for our customers while maintaining our leadership position as the best-connecting carrier across the region. “
“We have also embarked on a comprehensive revamping of our products and services onboard. The introduction of the new premium class, ‘Falcon Gold’ is the first step in our objective to offer our customers a superior and more consistent product and enhanced travel experience across our entire wide and narrow body fleet.”
Majali also highlighted several other positive developments at Gulf Air. “Our Bahrainisation level has reached 53 per cent and our efforts to encourage and employ more Bahrainis are paying off; the recently launched campaign to recruit Bahrainis for our customer-facing positions has been received well looking at the number of candidates applied.
“At the same time we are conscious of the financial impact due to the total number of employees we have on our roll. We have started optimising on this front and as a result, we have now around 300 less staff in our strength than last year. We were able to achieve this due to our strict contract-renewal criteria, freeze in recruitment except critical positions, and freezing positions that fall vacant through natural attritions such as resignations and retirements.”
“Challenges are ahead but we have now laid a strong platform for the future, with a totally committed team. I strongly believe that successful organisations are those that use adverse times to their advantage, finding opportunities to excel and I am sure we will be able to succeed,” Majali concluded.
On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee, Board of Directors greeted the staff and management. The board members promised their full support and guidance to the airline’s new strategy aimed at making the airline an efficient and commercially sustainable business.
The Board of Directors welcomed the three new members- Adel Maskati, Capt Ebrahim Al Gaoud and Hazem Janahi – who joined the Board recently and thanked the outgoing members Jawad Habib Jawad, Adel Salman Kanoo and Mohammed Farouk Almoayyed for their valuable contributions to the airline