Gulf Air New Package

[a400]

Suggestion to GF management

Suggestion to GF management

All pilots who cancel their resignation should be placed at a weary bottom of seniority list for upgrade or fleet transfer.
Just as appreciation to pilots who stick with GF at bed times.
This move would be nice.

[a400]

New package for GF pilots

FO
Base Salery - 2100
per year of service - 50
Housing
single- 550
married - 650
Schooling
prim - 1500
sec - 2500
block hour - 6

CAPT
Base Salery - 3000
per year of service - 60
Housing
single - 600
married - 700
Schooling
prim - 1500
sec - 2500
Block hour - 6

All in BD

Note:
Increase shall not apply to pilots being acceoted for VRS or resigining within 6 month after announcement.
All components not mentioned remain at the current level.

[Trader]

Re the comment - time now to show management we care. Most of us have ALWAYS cared!!!!! Most are professionals and, despite how GF treated them, they always worked hard and did the best they could. Those of us that are leaving are leaving NOT because they have no loyalty but precisly because they DO - to their family!

My decision to leave was not due to the money but due to what I perceive to be a bleak or unsure future. The BOD and the government have been incredibly inconsistant in how they run and handle the airline and that makes it difficult to predict how they will operate going forward.

I would LOVE to stay and work with the new managment but the fact is I do NOT trust the BOD or government and to stay presents me with a very real risk that in a year or two or five things will fall apart. The opportunities are available in the market NOW and may not be there later on.

Of course seniority always plays a significant role in our lives so I do not have the luxury of simply waiting and seeing.

So please do not mistake leaving with a lack of loyalty - it is not even close to being accurate!!!

Secondly, the new package is EXCELLENT and, for those staying, is well deserved. But TBAY - it is not better than the EK or EY packages. Lets look at them:

1. GF and EK basic pay or pretty much identical. GF pays 6bd per flight hour and EK 4.5.

2. Housing - GF pays 600-650 depending on status. My house which I have had for 2 years is 610BD/month and it is not close to be called fancy!. Comfortable and livable - yes. That rent will be going up 60BD this year and I am sure in most years. The house 2 doors down just rented for 900 BD - same as ours. So for the new joiners or the guy who wants or has to move he will be paying out of pocket again!! EK puts you up in fantastic housing with all utilities paid.

3. Schooling - GF doesn't even compare to EK. But then not an issue if you don't have kids.

4. Retirment - GF idemnity is just not up to par. EK puts 12% of your pay (15% after 5 years) into a retirment fund that is INVESTED and grows over time. GF can't come close.

5. Fleet - no need to even try to compare.

6. Upgrade - who knows at GF. But methinks it will be a while.

7. Future - as I said above GF is so unstable at the moment that things change day by day.

8. Rostering - still controlled by the mafia and will be for the forseeable future.

9. Mafia - make no mistake - there is a group of people with good connections who will not sit back and watch 'their' airline be run by others. This is one issue that has me very concerned!!



In any case - the new package is a GIANT step forward!!!!!! I am sure there are many smiling faces around at the moment (can't see since I am on leave) and that is welcome considering how low moral has been lately. IT IS WELL DESERVED by all the crew.

Finally, if this new management can hold out then things will improve dramatically at GF. BN in doing an excellent job and watch how things speed up now that he has a VPO in position.

[Stratosphere6000]

Once again a very good post from you trader. I thought us pilots were smarter than that. Unfortunately a lot of the guys just look at the numbers and orgasm. EK, QR n EY offer more than just the numbers. But hey if it makes some happy then no ones pointing fingers. Lets just look at the big picture. As trader said 3,4,5 10yrs down the road.

[HerInDoor's]

On behalf of all the wee Gulf Air wife’s/partners and I think I speak for the majority - I’m doing a little dance! Not so that I can go out and buy more shoes but because having to listen to all the negativity was becoming unbearable and all of a sudden my life seems a damn sight brighter!

Hopefully, gone are the days of having to give the old man a pep talk before he walks out the door and here’s to looking forward to him coming home with a spring in his step (keep the lewd comments to your selves!) rather than more rumored bad news.

The worse thing about the last couple of years for us has been the constant uncertainty and I for one am relived and glad for you all that at least one of the elements that has caused the distress has been eliminated . Roll on the next dilema, I look forward to a change of topic.

So, congratulations - it has been a long time coming.

Excuse me for invading your webspace, it won’t happen again and oh I lied about the shoes!

[Mephistopheles]

Conratulations to those who are staying & all the best for those who are moving on. Let's not let this get into an arguement between the two sides since we all want the same things out of an employer.

[Hummingbird]

a400 - Suggestion to GF management

Come on a400, the reason for lots resignations was that people were not happy with GF’s package so they were looking for something better for them and their families. The management came with this package for not only avoid more resignations but to attract back those who resigned. The majority of the guys that did not leave, either were not called for interview in another airline, or did not pass the exam, or because they were too lazy to try another job. There is NO such a thing of being loyal to a job that is collapsing when you can find next door something better and secure. The management got what they wanted;
1- Some of the pilots that had already resigned decided to stay because now it looks better than it was when they put their resignations in order to have a better life.
2- Avoided further resignations.
Maybe you are one of the lazy ones…

[point8four]

Trader - Yes and No on certain points
1)Basic pretty much the same - EK 3.5 per block hour according to latest package handout at Movenpick. GF also 1.5 per hour TAFB.
2)Housing agreed.
3)Schooling apples with apples? British School Bahrain 1800/yr. Dxb British School 2800++. 100% of 1600, 90% of the rest up to 3200. Not enough to separate them, assuming you can get your kid into a decent school in Dxb.
4)Provident- yes 12% from the company, but 5% comes off your basic too so subtract 106 from your basic.
5)Fleet - agreed
6) Upgrade- agreed
7)Future-anything could happen (9/11?)
8+9)Rostering and Mafia are synonymous- if you think there is no mafia at EK, a rude awaking master caution just illuminated on the upper ecam.
By my calculation, based on an 80 hour month at both carriers and the GF guy paying 900bd rent out of the rear pocket, GF guy comes out with about 400bd more than the EK guy. (But not taking into account his provident or retirement plan-the only major plus I see. So are they so far apart?)
But then again its not about the money anymore is it? Its about another 30 years in the Gulf hopefully 27 of those in the left seat of a shiny 777 or variant by future design.....

[Che Guevara]

The majority of the guys that did not leave, either were not called for interview in another airline, or did not pass the exam, or because they were too lazy to try another job.

Mr. Hummingbird
I find your comments offensive, direspectful and rude.
I am one of those pilots who does not want to leave Gulf Air. I can assure you that I am not too lazy to apply for another job, neither am I concerned about passing an exam or an interview. Finally I am not stupid; I am very aware of what is going on around me, but like others we don't need to rush over to another airline. If the time comes when we decide to go, then perhaps we will, and we will go as DECs, so then you will have something else to whine about.
I have nothing against anybody that wants to leave, it's a free world and I wish them all the best, however to insult the very people that gave you a job when you had none, trained you , worked with you etc. I just find very 'rich'.
Good luck my friend and don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[Mephistopheles]

Che Guevara, I totally agree with you cos according to Hummingbird then whoever remains in GF is a lazy good for nothing idiot?
Hummingbird, plenty of us have looked at the other carriers in the region of for 1 reason or another we have not moved (yet?) but that does not mean we are lazy or stupid. For your info I was offered direct entry into both Ek & Ey but for the time being I will remain here for my own reasons.
So when can we throw your leaving party cos I will be the first to buy you a farewell drink?

[Stratosphere6000]

Mr Che n Metamorphis, if you read correctly he said MAJORITY not EVERY. Maybe you two are the rocket scientists of the pilot community but its a fact. A lot of guys remain with GF because options are limited. I know a lot of guys who criticise the likes of EK, EY and QR only to find out that they were the same ones who didn't pass interviews. If you're happy here be. The guys who are going will be better off in the long run. I repeat for the 100th time especially the young F/O's....

[Mephistopheles]

Stratosphere6000 guess you've been chugging down way too much ozone way up there where you are. So according to you & Mr Hummer that means that a "MAJORITY" of the pilots left in GF are sub-standard operators, that's strange since rumours are that EY are coming to Bah soon-guess they must be coming for a holiday

[6000PIC]

Congratulations on the improved and long overdue terms and conditions. No doubt all of you deserve it. Cheers.

[DukePhantom]

Second Officers

This may not matter to most of you guys but what about the new recruits who will soon join GF as Second Officers? what are the changes for them, if any?

Thanks

[fractional]

Gulf Air moves to stem staff resignations

The Arabian Business On Line (by Safura Rahimi) reported the following yesterday, Thursday, 23 August 2007:
Gulf Air is to offer its cockpit and cabin crew significant pay rises in a bid to stem the number of employees quitting the troubled airline.
Bahrain's national carrier on Wednesday approved a new compensation package, which the company said met market standards, without going into further detail.
However, sources at the airline said it was offering a pay rise of up to 50% for flight attendants, up to 90% for senior flight attendants, up 70% for first officers, up to 50% for pilots, reported Bahraini newspaper Gulf News Daily.
Earlier this month, flight attendants handed a 500-signature petition demanding a 30% pay rise and increased allowances.
With the new packages, a captain's a basic monthly salary now stands at 3,000 Bahraini dinars ($8,000), a first officer's at 2,100 dinars ($5,600), a cabin service manager's at 600 dinars ($1,600), and a flight attendant's at 340 dinars ($900), sources confirmed to ArabianBusinesss.com.
The improved wage offering follows the resignation of up to 150 of Gulf Air's pilots and first officers since April, according to the newspaper.
In April Gulf Air announced it was to restructure its operations in a bid to curb losses of $1 million a day. The plan includes destination, fleet and employee cutbacks.
The airline said the new package also includes a significant increase to housing and schooling allowances for pilots.
It has also agreed to bear the cost of a 1% salary tax the Bahrain government introduced earlier this year to fund a national unemployment benefit scheme.
News of dissatisfaction among staff is just the latest in a string of problems to hit the airline.
At the end of last month chief executive Andre Dose quit the airline after just four months in charge after reportedly clashing with the board.
Gulf Air has appointed Björn Näf as Dose's temporary replacement and is still looking to appoint a permanent successor.
The airline is currently the subject of a criminal investigation by police over alleged financial irregularities and UK forensic auditor Kroll has also been appointed to examine the airline’s books as part of a separate government inquiry into its poor financial performance.

[Laker]

guys i don't get it. People are saying this new package is excellent but if you compare it to any other wealthy country it seems woefully inadequete. An Air France A 330 captain makes BD 10,000/month, a widebody capt in the US still makes about BD 6,000 month after a 50% paycut, and I imagine Cathay pilots are still up there. Is there anything I'm missing? Not trying to sound like an as# I'm just trying to figure out how they can attract qualified pilots when they are undercutting the going rate in the world market? Are there side benefits I'm missing? I've been contemplating leaving a us major airline to fly out in the middle east but all the rumors out west are that the pay and bennies are great but maybe I'm missing something...

[mogley]

Laker,
The cash side of the package is the same as Ek except housing & school fees which are both more expensive in Dxb. Also you have to remember we don't pay tax.

[tbaylx]

You're missing the tax equation. That all goes into your pocket at the end of the day. That and the fact that gas is dirt cheap, car insurance cheap, boats cheap etc etc. Sure groceries are a bit more expensive but overall your cost of living is lower that NA and you don't pay any tax. In the end you'd have to make about double back home to be competitive

[Desert Diner]

guys i don't get it. People are saying this new package is excellent but if you compare it to any other wealthy country it seems woefully inadequete.

Laker,

They are not trying to recruit the examples you have mentioned. It is unfortunate but the airlines out here are looking for the guys that aren't getting those salaries and don't expect to reach them for years or have been surplused.

Think vulture and it may make a little more sense.

[Desert Diner]

You're missing the tax equation. That all goes into your pocket at the end of the day. That and the fact that gas is dirt cheap, car insurance cheap, boats cheap etc etc. Sure groceries are a bit more expensive but overall your cost of living is lower that NA and you don't pay any tax. In the end you'd have to make about double back home to be competitive

That's the reason we don't go back. Not sure if it's enough anymore to come out here from a relatively secure/well paid job at home though.