Bahrain’s Gulf Air confirms CEO resignation

Bahraini national carrier Gulf Air announced on Sunday that its board has accepted the resignation of the airline’s CEO Maher Salman Al Musallam.

Al Musallam was appointed as the CEO in May 2016, after serving as the deputy CEO and later as acting CEO since December 2012, when former chief executive Samer Majali resigned. A certified pilot who previously spent 35 years with the Royal Bahraini Air Force, Al Musallam spearheaded the airline’s 2013 restructuring strategy.

In a brief statement on Sunday, Zayed Bin Rashid Alzayani, chairman of Gulf Air’s board and Bahrain’s minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, thanked the CEO for his contributions.

The reason for his resignation was not disclosed. The airline also did not confirm his replacement.

The announcement comes after Gulf Air announced the appointment of its new board of directors on May 14.

Along with the chairman, its new board members include – Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Dawood Nassif Dawood, Jameel Ali Al Matrook, Essa Mohamed Najibi, Jean-Christophe Durand and Jassim Hassan Abdelaal.

The board will serve a three-year term and support the airline’s management team in implementing its business strategy, a statement said.

The airline also said at the time that it is “increasingly focusing on managing and further investing in its ongoing growth, development and long-term expansion capabilities”.

Gulf Air is set to welcome its new fleet, which comprises 10 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, 17 Airbus A321 NEO and 12 Airbus A320 NEO aircraft with deliveries beginning from Q2 2018.

Its first new Dreamliner will be delivered in April 2018, and will operate the airline’s long haul routes, replacing its Airbus A330s.

While five Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners are anticipated to be delivered by end-2018, an additional two aircraft are slated to enter Gulf Air’s fleet by end-2019 and three are expected to be part of its fleet by end-2020.

Gulf Air’s Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners will offer 282 seats in a two-class configuration, with 26 gold class seats and 256 economy class seats.

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