Gulf Air targets profitablity in 2012

Gulf Air CEO, Samer Majali, stated the carrier is targeting 2012 to return to profitability (ABTN, 23-Mar-2010). Mr Majali added Gulf Air's short-haul network would be expanded over the next five years.

Gulf Air: "We must make the airline commercially sustainable. The airline has to be for the Kingdom of Bahrain but without needing its constant financial support. The strategies put in place previously did not cope. It is not enough only to take cost out of the business, revenue is also vital. Long haul gives you the lowest yield and the highest cost. Some people don't like closing a route. Some people base success on continuing expansion. But it makes no business sense. At the moment Shanghai does not make much sense for us. Big planes only make sense if you can fill them," Samer Majali, CEO. Source: ABTN, 23-Mar-2010.