Sounds as though they are going back to where it all started so many years ago, an expat. management team and and a major foreign carrier, (was BOAC), holding a 25%stake. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

The Bahrain Tribune reported this last week, before the GDN did, they also mentioned that Gulf Air are talking to Bombardier and Emprear (sp?) with a view to dumping 340's and taking on small ( less than 50 seats?) "feeder" aircraft.. .The BD60 million has ALREADY BEEN PISSED AWAY.. .Basically this is a survival plan, and if they don't do something this time, the member states (which basically means Abu Dhabi in this instance, cos they are Bahrain's best mates) have said that they will no longer keep pouring money in, just so that Shaikh *** and his f***ing cronies can keep stealing it.. .For the first time I can remember, they actually said as much in the newspaper (probably because they were told to). Expect more job cuts (but not in cabin crew) and some serious re-organisation.. .Regards,. .Desertia

If all the posts in this forum prove true, this all seems like a great way to get your own airline set up (by experts) thereby maintaining most of the tangible and intangible benefits of a locally based international carrier. And, most importantly, without assuming any responsibility for Gulf Air's many skeletons such as the rumoured rampant corruption, the money losing flight operations and most of all the long awaited GF072 accident report.