Gulf Air silent as MPs postpone company probe

Gulf Air declined to comment on Tuesday amid claims that Bahraini MPs have postponed an investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement.

Reports in Bahrain claim the government has shelved plans to go through Gulf Air’s books to avoid shaking public confidence during the peak summer months.

Gulf Daily News also quoted Abduljalil Khalil, parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman, as saying that six or seven of the carrier’s expatriate officials could be questioned later this year.

“We don't want to harm the company, especially when we are trying to help it stand, but things will be opened again when the summer is over,” he said at a press conference.

The airline declined to comment on any of the reports or allegations when called by Arabian Business on Tuesday.

Bahraini officials have previously called for Gulf Air chief executive Bjorn Naf to be sacked.

The MPs are said to be unhappy with the airline’s performance since Naf took charge in 2007.

Government officials are also thought to be clamouring for Bahrainis to replace four non-national department heads. Some MPs claim the airline has hired unqualified foreigners over skilled locals.    

When Naf took charge, Gulf Air was losing up to $1m a day. In the months following Naf’s arrival, the airline cut routes and jobs and reduced the airline’s fleet to stem the losses.

Despite the changes, Khalil reportedly questioned management’s credentials, claiming the airline was flying to loss-making destinations.

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