Do you think Gulf Air is going to give pink slip to their employees due to oil price rise ?

Gulf Air has no plans to lay off its employees, said its deputy CEO Waleed Al Alawi, while revealing its move to expand to new destinations.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of the company’s ‘2018 year of change’ event held at Bahrain Bay.

On the price of oil reaching $70 per barrel and its impact on profits, Mr Al Alawi said the current price affects the financial performance of the company as the cost of fuel represents a significant proportion of total expenses.

Citing the steps taken by the company to reduce fuel expenses, he said, “The new fleet of the national carrier will reduce operating expenses of the company by 20 per cent with the completion of orders of the new fleet of 39 aircraft until the end of the year 2023.”

Ten Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners have been added to Gulf Air fleet and the airlines expect to receive 29 Airbus 321A gradually until 2023.

“The company plans to operate its new Boeing Dreamliner 787 twice a day, between Bahrain Airport and London Heathrow Airport before operating on other routes," he said.

"The new fleet will enhance the latest products and services for the comfort and convenience of passengers, as well as leisure services that will compete with the business class of their counterparts’ airline, as well as the comfort and luxury of the new fleet."

About the company’s plans to expand and develop new destinations during the coming period, Mr Al Alawi said,  "The company is studying the market to add new destinations to the airline's routes.

"Gulf Air has eight new destinations for its network this year in India, adding Bangalore and Calcutta to all of India, Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Trivandrum and Hyderabad.

"Gulf Air will resume flights to Abha and Tabuk in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which will increase the number of carriers in the Saudi market including Dammam, Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah and Qassim. The airline's operations in Cairo will be boosted by the addition of direct flights to Alexandria and Sharm Al Sheikh. The company will launch direct flights to Baku in Azerbaijan and Casablanca in Morocco.

“The addition of flights to the major Gulf destinations in 2018 will enhance the flexibility of its operations and smooth connectivity to and from the Kingdom of Bahrain and its network of destinations.”