Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - Gulf Air Update

Nice reading

Enjoy CJ:D

Gulf Air, Bahrain’s national airline, today announced the launch of a major project which will see the redesign of all its aircraft interiors, together with its livery, uniforms and its passenger lounges.
The airline has appointed London and Singapore based designers James Park Associates to carry out all aspects of the redesign, which will coincide with an expansion and updating of Gulf Air’s fleet.
“Customer satisfaction is one of our top priorities and while we are proud of the very high standards of service and hospitality that we offer, we are constantly seeking ways to further enhance our passengers’ experience with Gulf Air as part of our aim to be the airline of choice,” says Gulf Air chief executive officer Bjorn Naf.
“With the help of James Park Associates, we will redesign every aspect of the passenger experience to blend traditional comfort with cutting-edge technology and materials to give our customers an unforgettable journey with Gulf Air,” said Naf.
Designer James Park said his company was excited to work on enhancing Gulf Air’s already strong brand image.
“This is an incredibly exciting project and one which will see further enhancement to Gulf Air’s image as a world class airline. The civil aviation world is evolving at an incredible speed and the challenge for all airlines and their designers is not meeting passengers’ expectations, but exceeding them. Gulf Air will achieve that and more,” said Park.
James Park Associates was founded in 1982, specialising in the design of bespoke interiors and luxury environments. With offices in London and Singapore, JPA's work focuses largely on the travel and hospitality industries. JPA has designed Singapore Airlines' new business class seat on the Airbus A380 aircraft and the first and business class seats on board their Boeing 777-300ER fleet.
Other projects include the Venice-Simplon Orient Express; the Eastern and Oriental Express; the Royal Scotsman; Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in Mauritius and the Maldives; Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur, India; Hotel Pierre, New York.
Acting executive vice president marketing and sales Danny Barranger hailed the tie-up with the international design consultancy as the “ideal partnership for a strong, successful and lasting brand.”
“Gulf Air has a long history of being the pioneer of aviation in the region and we have immense pride in our heritage and we will continue to a pioneering leader in the future. We are committed to development and improvement of our products and services to ensure that Gulf Air is well positioned to become the airline of choice,” said Barranger.
“This will include significant changes to the in-flight entertainment systems,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service

Impressive possibilities there. Thanks for the news, CJ!

BTW, when was this GF CEO appointed?
I was unaware management was out of limbo.

Cheers, BB

(PS. Too bad GF couldn't get a redesigned logo out in thime for this year's BAH GP)

PPS. This will mean EY's straight copy of GF's interiors will look out of date. :D

Hi BB

Being smaller GF will follow very much a boutique airline model. This means it will try stay one step ahead of the major regional players in terms of product offerings while covering major profitable routes. Only way it can survive I gather considering the crazy endless cash pits down the road!

GF is following a 'less is more' model while Arab competitors are following 'more is more' model, while playing out ego wars at the same time :p

EY isn't the only carrier to copy some of GF's product. Seats and F&B manager (aka in-flight chef)
EK is also starting to copy the 'only 8 seats in F class' which has been great for GF's premium cabin

The new CEO was the deputy CEO under Andre Dose when he was at GF. When Dose left(pushed?) Bjorn Naf then took on acting CEO while they considered their options and ended up giving Naf the job. Naf is also Swiss.

Naf seems to have done a good job so far. Morale at GF is very good atm. Bahrain for expats tends to be probably the nicest place to be, that helps I think. More than I can say for EK, QR or EY staff.

CJ:)

I just wish a 'major, profitable route' such as SYD-BKK-BAH or SYD-SIN-BAH is reconsidered when GF can afford to choose long-haul routes.

Etihad and Emirates (through their expansion and EK's A380) will likely keep GF out of this local slot, to our loss. :(

I just wish a 'major, profitable route' such as SYD-BKK-BAH or SYD-SIN-BAH is reconsidered when GF can afford to choose long-haul routes.

The SYD route is not profitable (low yield), unless you are charging QF level premium fares. Also, the A343's used are known in the industry as gas guzzlers. Further, the aircraft in the two days it takes to complete a BAH-SYD-BAH route could have made 4 profitable BAH-LHR-BAH trips instead. I don't think even the good cargo loads GF had on the SYD route were enough to justify the route. You would also need a one stop service, not two. I personally loved the SIN stop and it only adds 2 hrs to the trip in all.

Maybe if they used an A330 or 777(God forbid 2-3-2 J Class!!) or even wait for the 787 SYD may be an option. Who knows; I'd certainly love to see the Golden Falcon back on Aussie shores.

CJ:)

The SYD route is not profitable (low yield), unless you are charging QF level premium fares. Also, the A343's used are known in the industry as gas guzzlers.
...Maybe if they used an A330 or 777(God forbid 2-3-2 J Class!!) or even wait for the 787 SYD may be an option. Who knows; I'd certainly love to see the Golden Falcon back on Aussie shores.

CJ:)

CJ, remember GF's SYD routes were always officially profitable (IIRC) with the Hoganomics figures?

Etihad is claiming some very good passenger loads for SYD-AUH and BNE-SIN-AUH (or artfully quoting something).

As you mention, B777 is more efficient, so maybe the EY routes are profitable?
Officially (for PR at least), the Aussie routes are the most successful startup routes for Etihad.

Lies and statistics (;)) on this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=811129).

[I have a lot more miles in GF than EY and would like to see GF back in SYD, too. CJ, got GF miles? :)]

CJ, remember GF's SYD routes were always officially profitable (IIRC) with the Hoganomics figures?

Etihad is claiming some very good passenger loads for SYD-AUH and BNE-SIN-AUH (or artfully quoting something).

As you mention, B777 is more efficient, so maybe the EY routes are profitable?
Officially (for PR at least), the Aussie routes are the most successful startup routes for Etihad.

Lies and statistics (;)) on this thread (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=811129).

[I have a lot more miles in GF than EY and would like to see GF back in SYD, too. CJ, got GF miles? :)]

EY still isnt making a profit on the SYD route. They expect to break even 2012 or something! They have endless amounts of cash. Flights are full as demand is there( I have heard that at times there not enough seats to ME and GF's services would be welcomed warmly).

EK's 777 F & J and EY's J and F fares are still nearly half of the SQ, QF and BA fares thats another reason they r full. That said both EY and EK are using more economic ac on the route (A345 & B773)

EY & EK to me are like the Australian public hospital system..will always be in red but will operate nontheless..its taxpayers money and u need the service. With EY/EK it's biggest and best ego logic:D Maybe also the likes of EK are doing well because they r so large and have many other routes which feed off the Aus pax and may also subsidize the Syd route to an extent?

Aviation economics experts out there feel free to critique!:cool:
CJ:)

CJ, there was an item related to EY's expansion from SYD to BNE. BNE is marketed in the ME as the 'gateway to the Gold Coast'. ;)

I wonder if the premium section is full AUH-BNE (as well as outgoing Aussies BNE-SIN-AUH), thanks to the marketing of Australia, particularly the GC, to the affluent ME markets.
A trip to Australia, via SIN, to BNE for the GC would be pretty attractive if I was living in the ME (and wanted OTT GC accommodation like Versace!).

This is something I'd not considered previously and might explain BNE (in addition to the QLD subsidies at BNE!).

I am glad to have a better-quality and better-value J (and Y) service to Europe, with much more reasonable prices than the cost-cutting big name airlines.

If only I could swap out of my EK tix for EY. :rolleyes:

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry8700c: Opera/9.50 (J2ME/MIDP; Opera Mini/4.1.10781/298; U; en))

I was very surprised and angered that they do not allow women to sit in exit rows. My partner and I couldn't sit in an exit at all despite arguing with the female agent in DXB