Gulf Air set to join alliance within 3-4 months?

[newswatcher]

From the UAE "Gulf NEws"(8/1):

"Gulf Air is likely to join either Star Alliance or One World within three to four months, the airline's top official confirmed. The airline is also speading its wings to new destinations in Australia, South Africa and Greece.

"Gulf Air is in discussions with both Star Alliance and One World, but since it is a key decision which can be made just once we will make a final decision in the next three to four months," said James Hogan, president and chief executive of Gulf Air.

Hogan said the airline is looking at new routes to fly and the new destinations would be Sydney, Johannesburg and Athens. "The route profitability should make a contribution and not just to put our flag in a destination."

As a strong carrier in the Middle East, he said, the airline is looking at all market segments - regional and long haul and for the first time the airline has introduced a three-year network plan, short-haul and long-haul to consolidate its position and improve frequencies in key Middle East cities.

Hogan confirmed that the first instalment of the 90 million dinar injection by the three owner states has been made and the funds will be used for the various initiatives being planned.

Gulf Air is also in discussion with Oman Air to form a strategic alliance and work is underway to set up Gulf Air's single centralised reservations system through a call centre in Muscat in the next six months.

Moreover, the owners unanimously approved the airline's three-year recovery plans of the board last month which includes an injection of more than $238 million by the three owners.

Asked if any more aircraft would be leased from the Abu Dhabi-based Oasis International Leasing Co (Al Waha), he said it depends on the market and what is on offer. Currently, Gulf Air has three aircraft leased from Al Waha.

Hogan also clarified that there will be no new equity partner to take the place of Qatar which pulled out of Gulf Air last year. The legalities of Qatar's exit are being worked out at the government level. "It is an issue of the governments involved," he said."

[GULFPILOT76]

All lookes fine to me, . . . but the 767's are supposed to move to AUH and what does this mean for the crews involved, will it be voluntary or . . . else. :confused: I truly hope the meetings will give an answer to this very important question. I have everything here in Bahrain and I would like to stay. Any answers to this matter yet.

[ferris]

Does anyone have any more info on the proposed move to AUH of the 767 fleet?

[newswatcher]

In the UAE Gulf News(20/1):

Gulf Air said yesterday it was set to double its fleet of 30 aircraft.

The national carrier of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Oman is negotiating with a number of airframe manufactures to meet its mainline service aircraft requirements for the next 10 years, company president and chief executive, James Hogan, said here yesterday.

"As we grow we will naturally also expand our fleet," he added pointing out that a delegation from Airbus will visit Bahrain to finalise the discussions. Also, talks are under way with Boeing, Airbus, Embraer and Bombardier to discuss requirements for the next 10 years.

"We aim to return to destinations previously served and introduce new ones again on a commercial basis," he said.

Hogan said Gulf Air was also talking to a number of leading alliances, including Star and One World and a decision on joining one or the other can be expected in the first half the year.

Hogan said last week the debt-ridden airline has "kicked off the year in a buoyant mood as it cut eight million Bahraini dinar losses in six months."

The airline's strategy, he noted, aimed to reduce the amounts it owed to its owner-states to 20 million dinar by the year-end and break even by 2004, achieving a 5 million dinar profit during 2005.

The board had agreed at a meeting late last year to inject more than 90 million dinar into the airline for 2003. Gulf Air is expected to announce a total loss of around 38 million dinar for the year 2002. Last year, it lost 52.2 million dinar.

Earlier, addressing Gulf Air's 'Worldwide Sales and Marketing Conference', in Manama, Hogan told more than 200 sales and marketing personnel from across Gulf Air's network, that there was "nothing stopping Gulf Air from regaining its position as a world class airline".

Under the theme "Winning", he briefed participants in detail on the outcome of the board meeting held in December, at which the three-year recovery plan was unanimously endorsed.

"The board gave us exactly what we asked for," Hogan said. "Now its up to everyone in Gulf Air to work together as a team to ensure its implementation and the success of a mandate to run the airline on a commercial basis.

"2003 will witness one of the biggest, most creative and most exciting campaigns in Gulf Air's history to consolidate on what we have achieved so quickly in the second half of 2002," said John Butler, vice-president, sales and marketing."

[Skaz]

does this mean they are going to be looking for more crews? please....pretty please:D

[newswatcher]

From the UAE Khaleej Times(23/1):

"Gulf Air said that the ongoing restructuring of the airline is already showing results on the book with the yield up 10 per cent and good growth recorded in the number of passengers travelling with the airline. Luke Medley, Gulf Air's vice-president for services, who was in Dubai to address a staff meeting, said that the airline has been recording a 40 per cent growth in the number of people travelling with it in the first class and 30 per cent increase in the business class.

He also said that the airline is on schedule for the launch of its all-economy subsidiary from Abu Dhabi by June this year. The new airline will have its own livery and menu that would be impressive from the day one, he added. He also explained that the idea would not be to come out with a "cheap" airline, but with a value proposition for customers providing the best in the economy class. Medley said that once the customers tasted Gulf Air's economy class, they would want to have a feel of the business and first class, which is a major focus of the restructured airline company.

Asked if there would be duplication of flights going to the same destination for Gulf Air and its economy subsidiary, he said that there was no reason why there should not be as these would be two separate airlines targeting two different clientele. One of important destinations for the economy subsidiary would be the subcontinent, he added.

He also said that Gulf Air is in the process of launching a host of new services and products before the end of summer this year, while in Oman a large reservation centre in being set up. The reservation centre will have between 250 and 300 people working. New routes are also being introduced and the airline will fly to Sydney shortly. Some of the other new destinations would include Alexandria, Athens, Johannesburg and Salalah among others.

Medley said that Gulf Air's main focus will be on service and products in the future and their qualities, while a lot of stress would be given on customer retention. Branding would be another area of focus, while the airline will have a complete new look, both outside and inside in the very near future, he added.

He also talked about the menu and said that first class travellers to certain destinations would soon see chefs on board and an eight course menu. The menu for the economy class will be also very novel, added Medley. "We will try to provide enhanced customer satisfaction and being a Middle Eastern airline give our passengers the taste of the culture and hospitality of the region," he said."