View Full Version : GF recruiting for managers in Jo'burg and Dublin?
busflyer
2nd Jul 2005, 11:12
Article recently posted in Flight International detailing Gulf Air is looking to recruit managers for Jo'burg and Dubin.
Do I sense new routes in the pipeline?
apaddyinuk
3rd Jul 2005, 01:51
Its about bloody time an airline from the ME opened up into dublin!!! Theres nothing further east then Warsaw at the moment I think!!
Still a bit shocked EK havent started into DUB yet though, especially with all the Irish in DXB!
akerosid
3rd Jul 2005, 10:36
Absolutely agree; I saw this ad in FI this week (or last, can't remember) and while I'd prefer to see EK flying to DUB, it's time someone did and if EK misses it for another year, I don't think it will be left alone by the others, either QR or GF. There's a lot of potential there; it's not just the middle eastern traffic, but the beyond traffic and that's why I favour EK. Their hub at DXB is now well established and with routes through Asia, Australia, Africa and in between, they could - if they wanted to - make a good business out of a DUB route.
But if EK doesn't wanted, a big welcome to the Falcon!
A300Man-2005
3rd Jul 2005, 12:57
The goat will probably be just a few months behind the falcon, knowing them!
"A few months" more like a week probably and will have a 10 min departure time prior to GF. Amazing what you get when you throw enough money at it.
apaddyinuk
3rd Jul 2005, 16:32
Well the DAA will love QR if they do get money thrown at them, however, having actually worked for QR I dont think I want one of their planes flying over my house as its on finals into DUB!!! I may be forced to throw dog crap at it! :p
Paddy
Grab a handfull for me too
apaddyinuk
3rd Jul 2005, 23:13
6_Dof,
Im already out in the park with a bucket and spade collecting it for when the day arrives...I think I need professional help!!!
RevMan2
8th Jul 2005, 08:13
Surprises me that GF is spending money on advertising for staff - doesn't young James just steal them from bmi....?
vfenext
8th Jul 2005, 09:46
I think you will find they are quite happy to go from BMI.
RevMan2
8th Jul 2005, 12:02
Mind you, there's bu66er all worth hiring IMHO...
Icarus
11th Jul 2005, 16:49
From what I hear the positions are already filled (in pencil) with existing GF staff. DUB for a recent senior recruit at GF LHR and JNB from HDQ expatriate staff. Mind you, that's this week! Who knows what JH will want next week! Anyway both sites to open 1 December and should be A330's.
busflyer
11th Jul 2005, 16:56
Both Dublin and Jo'burg flights to start on 1st Dec; excellent news! Any idea of the frequencies for both destinations?
vfenext
11th Jul 2005, 21:08
3 times weekly to start. The JoBurg route is out of DUB not the gulf,so must be a deal with Lingus. Sounds like a six day trip for the crew.
boiler
11th Jul 2005, 22:13
The JoBurg route is out of DUB not the gulf
I doubt very much your info is correct. JNB will most probably be from BAH NOT DUB. EY are also trying to go to JNB as well.
vfenext
12th Jul 2005, 09:28
I accept it's an odd one to say the least but a good source told me this was how it was going to work. I hope not, since it means a long block of days away. There is however the issue of ETOPS, since GF don't have it on the 330 will it still be possible to do it direct from the Gulf? Hope I am wrong, we only have to wait til the week-end.
Zones
12th Jul 2005, 12:30
In terms of GF, BAH, Ireland and 'aviation in general', it is worth noting that the Irish 'mafia' (aka Aer Rianta) are very well established in Bahrain & Middle East (mainly duty free shopping)and also several Irish expats are senior managers for Bahrain Aviation Authority.... so it makes a lot of sense from that perspective... and long overdue too IMHO, but then again maybe there just isn't THAT much traffic to be had... maybe we'll see soon...
near enuf is good enuf
12th Jul 2005, 23:46
"several irish expats, senior managers with Bahrain Aviation Authority"
I don't think so!
vfenext
13th Jul 2005, 14:28
Yep looks like both new destinations are out of BAH.
the Irish 'mafia' (aka Aer Rianta) are very well established in Bahrain & Middle East (mainly duty free shopping
ZONES, Aer Rianta are ONLY involved in duty free these days. Their airport management days are well and truly over.
BAH-JNB, is this an ETOPS route? I would have thought that it would route over Jeddah and down through Africa, therefore not ETOPS.
Mutt
6_DoF
16th Jul 2005, 18:07
Dublin Announced:
http://www.ameinfo.com/64288.html
Zones
20th Jul 2005, 09:25
niege: maybe 'several' was a pprune-ism, but there are at least two, one in charge of marketing the airport, by the initials DR.... can't recall the name of the other, maybe he is no more... it's been awhile since dealt with them...and they do have an influence on GF together with Bahrain Duty Free (aka Aer Rianta...!!) They are all buddies and talk to each other.
vfe: aer rianta maybe 'only' interested in duty free these day, but the fact is that this is an inherent part of airport management and revenue generation for the airport/aviation authorities themselves. Bahrain is the regional HQ for Aer Rianta, and they are involved in duty free at airports across the region.
Given a reasonable Irish population in Bahrain, Dubai and elsewhere in Gulf, it wouldn't surprise me if these paddies referred to above had an influence, albeit intangible and not measurable, on the choice of GF to finally start ops to Dublin, even if the business model here is much bigger than the origin destinataion traffic that BAH and DXB can produce on their own (with out the worldwide connex traffic).....
My own surprise is that EK didn't get there first...
There is a non etops route from the Gulf to Nairobi. From there they could route over Lilongwe ( Malawi) and Harare to JHB.
vfenext
20th Jul 2005, 10:34
ZONES, not sure but you sound like any influence brought by the Irish community is unfair! Personally I think it's fair enough and about time someone from the Gulf took on the DUB route. With all the business links to this area it will be a great success. The College of Surgeons Ireland have just expanded in Bahrain which is probably a bigger influence than Aer Rianta. James Hogan had a meeting with the Irish Prime Minister last year, thats how long this has been in the planning. Don't forget GF will offer Australia out of Dublin which will be very popular. If EK are late on the route that's their problem, it is surely a safer bet than some of the more obscure destinations they fly to.
Zones
20th Jul 2005, 16:50
VFE - certainly not, I have many Irish friends, both in Bahrain and around the world. Got no bones on the matter. Was just pointing out, anecdotally, that this may have happened.
I wouldn't have made another comment, but felt I needed to correct niege's suggestion that my facts may have been wrong, or yours that that Aer Rianta didn't have a strong influence in matters aviation in Bahrain, esp. at the airport level.
Of course the 'real' decision is at a different level and based on other matters such as dollars/cents or dinars & fils! ( ~ the latter you sometimes wonder however :O ) But I still would bet that BDF were pleased for more than business reasons that DUb is starting up! (And good on 'em...)
The same is true for the routing opportunities that Dublin will benefit from... more important than the Irish in Bahrain clamouring for the route..
So, you did mis-read from where I was coming from... not a big deal tho'... :ok: