Bahrain Mirror: Gulf Air Deputy Chief Executive Officer Waleed Al-Alawi said that "the company doesn't plan to dismiss employees within its new strategy," indicating that "Gulf Air is not passing through conditions to construct its operations, however, it is broadening through new destinations".

Al-Alawi said in statement to journalists on the margin of a ceremony organized by the company under the title "2018: Year of Change" that "the company has no negative plans to dismiss employees and shut down unuseful stations." With respect to the oil prices that exceeded 70$ per barrel and the challenging of price to return the company to profitability, Al-Alawi commented "the current price affects the company's financial performance as fuel costs represent a significant proportion of total expenses," pointing out to "the biggest step taken by the company to reduce fuel expenses."

He confirmed that the new national carrier fleet would reduce the company's operating expenses by 20% with the completion of the new fleet orders that include 39 aircrafts until the end of 2023.

The Gulf Air order that consists of 39 aircrafts will include 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, noting that the airline's first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, arrived on April 27, and 29 Airbus A321 aircrafts that will be received in 2030.

Al-Alawi stressed that "the company plans to operate new long-term Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to serve customers twice a day, between Bahrain's International Airport and London's Heathrow Airport, before using them in different air routes."

Arabic Version