Talks in Paris between the airline and manufacturer discussed future requirements for “up to 50” aircraft and looked at both narrow- and widebody types.
Gulf Air currently operates a 28-strong all-Airbus fleet consisting of six Airbus A330s for its long-haul routes to London, Manila and Bangkok, with six A321s and 16 A320s handling regional services.
The carrier also has an order book of 16 A320neos, “12 to 16” Boeing 787-8s and 10 Bombardier CSeries CS100s due for delivery toward the end of the decade. However, Gulf Air has said in the past these numbers could change, depending on the company’s performance.
Gulf Air is still loss-making, although it has steadily pared back its losses in recent years and says it is continuing to improve its financial position.
It lost BD63 million ($160 million) in 2014. A few years ago, losses were far higher—BD211 million in 2011 and around BD185 million in 2012.
Talks took place Sept. 8 in Paris between Bahrain’s transportation and telecommunications minister Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, Gulf Air’s acting CEO Maher Salman Al Musallam, Airbus’s chief strategy and marketing officer Marwan Lahoud and the manufacturer’s managing director, Middle East Fouad Attar, the airline said.
“Gulf Air is a strategically important, key national infrastructure asset, connecting the Kingdom of Bahrain globally and supporting the country’s long term aspirations for economic development and diversification,” Mohamed said.
“We have seen considerable positive progress achieved by Bahrain's national carrier on both an operational and financial level since the airline embarked on a comprehensive restructuring in 2013. Optimizing Gulf Air's fleet is an ongoing process and a critical component of its current and long term strategic business direction.”
An Airbus spokesman in Toulouse declined to give further details of the talks.
ATW
Photo:Glenn Palmer - LHR
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