GF-A330 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2001, 1643 posts, RR: 3 Posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2844 times:
Chairman Al Kooheji says most likely, [we’ll] return to discontinued routes,” Al Kooheji notes, such as Singapore and Dublin. He also says Gulf Air will “add more frequencies to existing routes.
Gulf Air is also interested in upgrading interiors of its existing aircraft and installing state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment (IFE).
During the signing, Al Kooheji expressed interest in resurrecting US service. The carrier ceased US flights in 1997; however, Gulf Air has had a codeshare with American Airlines since 1994.
“Gulf Air is now really moving forward. Hopefully we will be flying back to the US very soon,”
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11948 posts, RR: 37 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2423 times:
Great to see GF coming back to DUB; we were sorry to lose them.
I think one thing that militated against GF is that their scheduling was all over the place; the SIN route connected directly from the DUB flight, but not on the way back. I think that part of the problem there was that the airline was spread across two hubs - MCT and BAH; now that they just have BAH, it should be easier to set up a more efficient schedule, ensuring maximum connectivity between all points east and west of BAH.
Thomasphoto60 From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 3723 posts, RR: 25 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 4 hours ago) and read 2404 times:
Quoting GF-A330 (Thread starter): During the signing, Al Kooheji expressed interest in resurrecting US service. The carrier ceased US flights in 1997; however, Gulf Air has had a codeshare with American Airlines since 1994.
“Gulf Air is now really moving forward. Hopefully we will be flying back to the US very soon,”
Well it is probably a long shot due to EK's strong presence and QR starting ops in Nov, but it would be sweet to see GF re-start their lived IAH service. Again, the IAH-Persian Gulf sector will likely be at capacity once QR begins later in the year with little additional room for growth, but who knows, there may be enough room for another. BTW, does GF have the birds that can do a IAH or JFK non-stop? It is widely believed that in part is what did in their US operations.
Neutral From Ireland, joined Nov 2007, 307 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2279 times:
I think there is room for GF to return to Dublin with the loss of the Dubai service from AerLingus and the loss of Singapore 747 cargo service also from Dublin.Surely there is now a demand for both passenger/cargo flights to the likes of Bahrain and Dubai from Dublin.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24873 posts, RR: 60 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2242 times:
I had a conversation with some people who used GF alot in J class to the Far East and who now fly EY . They said that GF left them high and dry and would not fly them again . GF will have a massive task to get back the business they lost if they come back to Dublin. EY has the loyalty and respect so I think GF will find it very hard to catch up let alone steal EY's clients.
Also a manager of a major company who now have corporate deals with EY actually laughed when I told him GF were maybe thinking of coming back to DUB.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
I think one thing that militated against GF is that their scheduling was all over the place; the SIN route connected directly from the DUB flight
Did the DUB flight not connect to the Cape Town flight?. I remember a pic in airliner world magazine of a GF A330 with a shamrock & giraffe sticker on the door.
Good to see GF possibly return to DUB, at least EY might now have some competion & there will finally be two airlines flying eastbound from DUB.
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 24873 posts, RR: 60 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 1979 times:
Quoting EICVD (Reply 7): Did the DUB flight not connect to the Cape Town flight?. I remember a pic in airliner world magazine of a GF A330 with a shamrock & giraffe sticker on the door.
It was JNB.
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4438 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1900 times:
GF used to fly the same aircraft 3 times a week DUB-BAH-JNB using an A 332.
GF never made any good money with its SIN route and should not return to this city as the majority of its traffic would consist of low yield leisure pax as it doesnt have the high yield O&D market base + large connecting network that EK has with DXB.
As far as wanting to return to USA goes, here is another route that will lose $$$ from day 1. If QR bleeds money on their EWR and IAD flights, what chance does GF have when QR has a larger network, better in-flight service reputation and the right aircraft to fly the route.
If GF want to expand, it would be in their best interest to use their aircraft for expansion to AMD, ATQ, LOS and PEK. These destinations offer more money making potential rather than USA, DUB and SIN!
MAS777 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 1999, 2916 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (5 years 2 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1659 times:
Gulf Air should continue to build at KUL and perhaps return to SYD via KUL to ensure that KUL doesn't just need to manage on the high volume seasonal traffic during the Arabic holidays. There is already too fierce a competition between EK, EY and others between Europe and KUL.
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