Gulf Air looks to niche markets for profits to take off

Gulf Air is looking to niche and underserved markets to fly back into profitibility. Samer Majali, Gulf Air Chief Executive Officer, told Gulf News that the launch of three new routes in June and July is just the beginning of expansion plans for the Bahrain-based airline. His comments came during Gulf Air's maiden flight to Kabul, Afghanistan, which saw 94 passengers fly from Manama to the Afghan capital last week. "We are glad to launch the flight to Kabul. Gulf Air has been moving forward with its programme to reach out to specific cities," he said, adding that flights to Kabul officially began on Wednesday, with Nairobi to follow on July 1 and Copenhagen on July 4. "We are moving according to schedule and we will not change the dates. We have plans to have other destinations, and these will be announced later," he said. Gulf Air resumed its flights to Beirut after it suspended them following a political standoff. "The results for the Beirut route will take some time now because most people made their arrangements for the summer weeks ago. But we are confident the route will be profitable," he said. The Kabul route will be a good opportunity to reinforce the company's network, he said. "The service to Afghanistan, which we announced this March, took off as planned following the completion of extensive safety and security audits. This reinforces the airline's leadership position once again as we become the first ‘full-service' scheduled commercial carrier in the Middle East to connect to Afghanistan." Gulf Air's strategy towards recovery and profitability includes connecting Bahrain with niche and underserved markets in the region that have high growth potential, Majali said. "Afghanistan has seen some remarkable growth recently. While the Afghanistan government is committed to the development of a dynamic, competitive private sector, several international organisations and countries have pledged their support to work in partnership with local businesses to revitalise the economy," he said. "By connecting Kabul with Bahrain we are opening a huge commercial opportunity for Afghanistan's well known traditional industries such as carpets and gems, and the industrial sectors namely construction and engineering, IT/telecommunications, transportation, and of course mining, which are poised for takeoff. "With Bahrain's ‘business friendly' economic policies and its strategic location at the door-step of Saudi Arabia offering a multi-million dollar business market, I can assure the trade and business community of Afghanistan that there is a huge market waiting for you. "As the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain operating the largest network in the Middle East, we are well positioned to connect you to these markets," he said, minutes before the inaugural flight took off. The plane touched down at Kabul International Airport at 2:50pm, three hours and 15 minutes after leaving Bahrain. The approach through a valley close to high jagged mountains was impressive. "We are glad to have connected Afghanistan with Bahrain and beyond," Maher Al Musallam, Gulf Air Deputy CEO, said at the Kabul airport reception. From / Gulf News