Hi all

i was just reading through all this downsizing and re-structuring of gulf air and was wodnering if many crew are trying to make the move to Etihad? For those that are already crew or have been for gulf, would there much of a pay difference going to Etihad? for better or worse?? I have just been offered a job with Etihad and am going over around June, so was just wondering what the census is with all you gulf crew

Supposed to have been something on BBC a few hours ago with the big guy & the chairman of the board interviewed. They said something like GF can not compete with the bigger carriers in the area & that we will have to become a regional airline & feed passengers to our bigger brothers.
Doesn't seem much of a future. I think we are heading Oman Air's way whilst they will be going international
Also with the political tensions in Bah ready to explode things are looking better day by day

For heavens sake please don't tell me any of you actually believe the fact that they will fire any cabin crew, or expat crew?
It's all a load of b*ll*cks, if they fire any crew they can pretty much for sure ground flights. They intend to fire the "do bu@@er all" office staff and ground staff, they just cannot come out and say it. Trouble is when the media get a handle on what's happening all hell will brake loose. Should make for some interesting reading in the GDN.
In the meantime the gravest error they are making is that all this hype and insecurety will make people run, next thing on the cards is .................. wait for it.

Direct entry Captains ............ on 6 month contract ofcourse.

Goodness me will these boys ever learn

Anyway sorry must go now as I've got an Etihad interview to prepare for

Cheers
Capt Fluffies

Just to get the ball rolling,
How many expats have they fired till now................hhmmm
NONE
All locals VP's with fat salaries, huge ego's, and lots of Armani suits (see VPO)
Nuff said
Cheers Fluffies

Not so hard to get into Etihad, all you need to do is get arrested for smuggling, spend the night in the lock up and get fired...there you have it..easy!

Bombay HF...sounds like fun but???????

Well It is official, Check your webmail.
4 B767s to remain till March 2008. With 50 crews.

But they are not on the schedule from 1-July; believe they will only be used on a 'stand-by' basis.

stand by? I hope that means they gut the bloody things. I refuse to fly the 76 in its current fit out. What an absolute disgrace of an ac...I think a cargo ac has a more comfortable and reliable reputation that GF's 76's

Ha Ha Ha! I love it. Yeah you 767 guys really are in a position to refuse to fly these day. Stick it to the company ODMEA we are all behind ya!

If I remember correctly ODEMA does not work for GF but is a frequent passanger.

Looks like the management is taking the cabin condition seriously and you will see changes soon, especially in economy. They will also be undertaking to ensure that the condition and working order is maintained which has been a real issue. I think our passangers will be pleasantly suprised. Especially as they organize and plan proper connection timing etc.

ODEMA is a GF customer, not a Boeing pilot. He raises a valid point that our new management is addressing. The B767's are being phased out not because they are a bad aircraft, but because the cost to redo the interiors to a suitable standard, and the costs of running a two type fleet are becoming more than what Bahrain wants to deal with.

ODEMA, you should notice a marked improvement in the interiors of the aircraft over the next several months, as well as some of the other issues Trader mentioned.

As for jack's off the cuff comments, the boeing guys are not interested in sticking it to the company. All we're asking for is some information on how many people they need, how many of us are "surplus" and can feel free to look for work elsewhere and how long we have. If we don't get that information i'll assume worst case scenario and guess it's July 1st i'm out of work if i'm not willing or able to sign another 3 year bond on the Airbus. Nice to know they'll keep 50 of us till March next year, that at least gives us an idea of the numbers that will need to leave or sign.

Typically breathtakingly arrogant GF "the customer is an inconvenience" attitude displayed there jackbauer, well done.

" We are retaining 4 B767 till March 2008, crew complement for these aircraft are 26 Captains and 24 First Officers.

A330/340 manpower meets the network requirements, hence there are no courses planned for transfers to this fleet.

We have an urgent need to transfer both Captains and First Officers to A320 with first courses as follows:

1st May
13th May
10th June
08th July

I would lioke to invite people to apply for these courses, selection from applicants will be as per seniority"

Based on this fact, if you are the 27th Captain or 25th First Officer think about the 320 or resign. No mention regarding Training Bond.

Wait and see...

Thank you Bahrainlad, but if you can show me where it is obvious in ODMEA's post that he is a pax I would appreciate it. He is on a forum frequented by GF staff and comments on issues as if he is one of us. There is a forum for SLF which might better suit his origins. Meanwhie I apologise if offense was taken but if you are not clear where you come from then what do you expect. As for the 767, guys I feel sorry about the way things are developing. If you are not dusting off CV's and looking elsewhere you are taking a big risk. In fact that also goes for the Airbus guys too. GF may not be a very nice place to work in 6 months from now and if you look at my past posts you will know I don't say that likely! I have always been a supporter of GF but these days it's getting to a point where there is no good news anymore. Mr. Dose is doing nothing to encourage people to stay. I get the impression he wants to scare everyone into leaving. All this talk about pulling together to make the company work is a load of nonsense when directed at crew. We are the only ones who have nowhere to hide, we must turn up and fly. Our productivity is not in our hands its down to the company. We already fly the max hours every year so what more does he want!! He needs to separate his commumication with the crew from everyone else before there is nobody left to fly his 28 aircraft. Phew!! Feel better now.

It doesn't say anywhere. But who would be stupid enough to assume that someone saying "I refuse to fly the 76 in its current fit out" is a currently serving GF 767 pilot rather than a passenger?

Tis a miracle, Jack has seen the light.

Couldn't agree more with you Jack, Mr Dose there needs to find himself a good PR adviser as his communications skills scare the bejesus out of all his crew. I fear his 28 aircraft plan will work out like a charm but the damn things will be grounded because he'll have bu@@er all pilots to fly them.
May I suggest you don't wast company funds Andre in bringing in professionals to root out corruption (because it aint happening). You'de be better off spending that money on a good pilot recruiting agency cause I figure you'll need it.

Cheers
Fluffies

Jack and cohorts...

ODMEA has in fact mentioned that he is a premium pax on this very thread - 11 Apr 07 quote:

"As a 5 yr premium pax with GF I strongly second your entry. I can say GF is no where near as bad as some airlines I've traveled with though. They can however take more pride in presentation. Quick turnarounds shouldn't come at the cost of a dirty cabin.

QR has employed "specialist cleaners" to make sure ac are cleaned to a pristine standard for EVERY flight. I have also been made aware that crew are reprimanded at the end of a flight if toilets are dirty after inspection by ground crew.

AD take note!

Oddy"

Unquote......

Next.

Ironbutt (aka Mr. teamwork, I like GF and I hate eurobrats) is quiet these days, maybe like jack he also gave up on GF and joining Etihad in the near future.

Nice try! ACTUALLY (snort) he won't be joining anyone in AUH...wait to see what he does next! (I know...you probably will be surprised!)
Be cool...LC