Gulf Air A-321s delayed?

[Che Guevara]

Any truth to the rumour that the A-321s have been delayed again? Apparently it was in the Arabic press today...?


Hasta luego...Run Forrest, Run..

[Mr. R]

you think A321s are easy to get??? Hell many airlines are looking for 321s and aren't able to get some to avoid the long backlog from Airbus despite offering lots of money over the original base price

it's like ordering a sports car. Inventory so low yet waiting time so high

[NO FD NO SRS]

A321 deal is off for good.

[ironbutt57]

Deal off??? Where did you hear that?:confused:

[Stratosphere6000]

LOL!!!!!!! just have to laugh...then you blame the guys for leaving this mad house....at least they'll be well paid and have futures to look forward to. As for environment. Well it's ME same stuff just different name...........

[NO FD NO SRS]

A321 was AD's obsession at any price.Study did not justify the lease so the board called it off.

[Che Guevara]

Yeah, no kickbacks there.

It's painfully obvious and has been for a while, that absolutely no money is being invested in the company by it's owners...not 1 solitary Fil.:ugh:
Well, good luck to them, it's going to be a big loss of face for them among their piers, for sure.

And out of the Falcon's ashes arose Bahrain Air (fanfare!.
"Bah where?" he asked
"Bahrain" was the reply
"Where's that" he asked
"You know, it's in the Middle East, where they have the Tree of Life".
''Oh yes, they had an airline based there once didn't they, Gulf Air or something like that?"


Dos mas cuba libres, por favor.

[Chuck Y]

The board are currently trying to cut a deal with either Airbus or Boeing cos they have to fill their pockets real quick since who knows when this joke of an airline will go under. Especially since when we are under bankruptcy none of them will be able to make any shady deals. So fill your pockets boys & thanks for continuing to f*** GF.

[chrispatrickGA]

ChuckY, if what you affirm is real they are absolutely unaware of the aviation market.
Definetely this kind of behaviour will sink the ship GF....:sad:

[Ray Darr]

Planning??

...isn't that talented (being serious now) Brazilian planning guy that GF had now working in Dubai where the metal is new and orders keep-a-coming?

I heard he left as there IS no GF plan outside of a vague 2-year horizon, but his new company has a 15+ year plan(?) (and NO, I do not work at the new place he went to either...). With time slipping away for ANY aircraft orders, that was a good enuff reason for him to walk elsewhere.

...I hope the Falcon turns around FAST for everyone's sake there. Now with the 321's allegedly quashed, who knows what will be the next project of the week they toss your way... At least you're getting a partial but long-overdue increase in pay now, from the sounds of it.

Best 'o' luck.

[ironbutt57]

We plan on having a plan to make a plan for our future plans..that's the plan..:bored: but do not despair...we have a plan "B"

[fractional]

GF or its replacement will be a reality and it won't be just private. It cannot be yet.
Proud as they are in this part of the world for now(?), they may choose to change the name to Air Bahrain or Bahrain Air(ways) or whatever... It isn't important for now, but Gulf Air (GF) is a trade mark and it may be sold for some money to a private investor for some money while the Bahraini government chooses to have a new name to portray the country name internationally. All is possible.
I would bet that GF or the new airline would be something like 50.01 and 49.99 if you like. The Bahraini government will have to have the majority stake. It's too early for them (government) to let it go and become a minority partner or play no part at all.
Again and with whatever name, they will have to rely on the local expatriate workforce and cargo services. The so-called through traffic will add to it if can compete with the other prices (QR, EY and EK besides the LLCs). They will also have to diversify and get holiday packages, but again, it's going to be difficult to compete with the Gulf majors. Perhaps, becoming more sophisticated and offer "excellence" in first and business classes may help to create good revenue and its own niche. A guess professional "connoisseurs" of the marketing and advertising will have a better plan. It has to be someone with solid background and expert in the local market needs.
Needless to say that, and without being arrogant, Dinars and senses will have to be the rule. The government has to give the new management team a sensible and viable mandate to achieve pre-determined goals in (let's say) 3 years without going mad to show "convenient" results as it happened recently despite the difficulties created by the countries involved.
Corruption in whatever form and from whatever quarter will endanger any (recovery or otherwise) plan. The government, potential private investors, the board of directors, management and their associates will have to be more responsible and accountable. Without this attitude from the top towards the bottom, nothing will ever change.
20 twins (10 narrow and another 10 wide-bodied) would probably be a reasonable (re)starting line-up.

[left_to_first_class]

Ray Darr,

Yep the Brazilian guy left to go to EK, and knowing him personally this was EK's gain and GF's loss.

The issue with aircraft orders is that lack of commitment from the Government(s) to spend any money. Even this time last year, Hogan submitted a proposal to the board/government to replace Gf's fleet.
This I am told was to fly A330 / 320 fleet to reduce costs and keep the fleet simple. This plan was an interim with the longer term being A350/321 or B787/737. A lot of work was done, including getting Boeing to agree any transition costs from Airbus to Boeing if Boeing was chose. Put it this way, the fleet planning and strategy (which go together) would have been fixed along time ago.

But the board being the board, stalled and stalled and stalled.

Sadly, as others have said, getting a new plane quickly is going to be pretty hard. EY, QR and EK are snuffing up any spare orders.

[boiler]

As far as I know, that Brazilian guy who left to EK was doing absolutely nothing for the past 2 years or so. Partly because the "Bored" was not serious about updating the fleet. In the last 5 months, it was RB and its head in BAH (MW) calling all the shots and he again was being left out. I wonder how much in commissions MW was planning on getting. So, he is in a better place now thats for sure.

In a related issue, I was on a GF flight the other day on an A320 and part of the panel above me was held up by tape. Just shows you how well the GF fleet is standing up.

[ironbutt57]

The state of the cabins and galleys is apalling to say the least

[GF-A330]

The first of 4 ex-Spirit Airlines A321s is joining the fleet in mid-October i've been told by the son of the owner of Spirit.

[Ali Baba]

The truth is oman pull out of gulf air and they refused to register any NEW Aircraft for gulf air, the last day of DGCAM IN BAH will be 05 nov 07, and yes bah goverment ask DGCAM to extend TILL NOV 2008 as BCAA were not ready to take over, DGCAM refused . the rest lead to whatever happened:D

[ironbutt57]

Notning to do with registration, in fact the A9C Bah regist already on the books...it would have to be something else if it is indeed canclled....:confused:

[TARCS]

In relation to GF replacing the B767 with A321s, I have heard from a good source in GF engineering management that Oman Air has asked for all past records of 2 B767's to be transfered to their domain. Believe it or not!

[serious flyer]

Was this Brazilian management or operations on GF?
Did not know there were Brazilians outside of pilots and cabin crew on the Middle East's Airlines.

[International]

it means WY are so desperate to get a/c, and cant find anything better, that they are buying/leasing 2 of the B767s that even GF wont fly.

[left_to_first_class]

Serious Flyer - The Brazilian was management, although he did spend lots of time twiddling his thumbs whilst the board read is fleet proposals.