Gulf Air unveils five-year expansion strategy
Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air has rolled out its new corporate strategy for 2018 and beyond which includes major network expansion plans adding eight new routes into its regional network this year besides boosting its fleet strength and offering best in-class products and services.
Unveiling its roadmap for the future, Gulf Air said the move is aimed at elevating the passenger experience, promoting the Kingdom’s tourism economy and bolstering its aviation, transport, tourism and business infrastructures, and the aviation industry as a whole.
The Bahraini national airline is planning a major network expansion coinciding with its new aircraft deliveries under the five-year strategy.
In India, its current operations to Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, and Hyderabad will be enhanced by additiona; flights to the south Indian cities of Bengaluru and Kozhikode.
As part of its regional expansion strategy, Gulf Air will be launching services to the Saudi Arabian cities of Abha and Tubuk, thus complementing its current service to Dammam, Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah, and Gassim.
Its operations to Egytian capital Cairo will be supplemented by direct flights to Alexandria and flights to Sharm El Shaikh. The airline will also launch operations to Baku in Azerbaijan and Casablanca in Morocco.
Zayed Bin Rashid Alzayani, the chairman of Gulf Airs board of directors, said: Our national carrier is an integral part of Bahrain’s economy and a critical component of its aviation infrastructure. Gulf Airs future plans bode well for the country’s aviation, transport and tourism infrastructures and the kingdom as a whole.
Alzayani said reducing the losses was a vital step, together with the relentless commitment to boost its services, fleet and network with the opening of new strategic routes. “This has been made possible due to the determination and passion of Gulf Air’s workforce and management team who are working towards realising this plan for the airline’s future,” he added.
In the coming months, the Bahraini national carrier will be boosting its fleet strength with 39 new Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and two Airbus A320neo aircraft will enter service by year-end.
Alzayani added: “With this development, major positive change is on the horizon. Gulf Airs new fleet will be outfitted with superior on-board products and services. With aspirations to be best in class across both its wide and narrow body fleet, Gulf Airs new business class offering will compete with the first class standard of other airlines while its economy class product will afford enhanced onboard comfort.”
CEO Kreimir Ku?ko commented on the new plan, saying the new hi-tech fleet along with the best in-class products and service will pave the way for Gulf Airs growth and expansion. This will have a positive impact on the entire Kingdom, thus cementing its role as the regional airline of choice with a global footprint and best in class.
“It is an honour to share some of our airlines upcoming developments and to invite a broad spectrum of key stakeholders to be a part of the great journey that lies ahead for both the kingdom and its national carrier,” stated the airline chief. “As a proudly Bahraini enterprise, operating in the interests of Bahrain, people look at Gulf Air today and see much more than an airline. They see a national carrier, a local employer, a tourism driver and a link to our business partners and political allies across the globe.
“They see an airline that, like all airlines around the world, reflects and supports its country and economy. We believe Gulf Airs pioneering legacy, which dates back to our establishment in 1950, will continue to positively shape our future.”
Gulf Air recently carried out a strategic 360 degree assessment of its business. This included looking into how the airline can best nurture and develop its network, fleet, product, workforce, and customers.
