BAHRAIN - Gulf Air is looking at a deficit of approximately US$211 million as fuel prices hamper strong revenue growth.
President and CEO James Hogan said "revenue growth simply cannot keep pace with oil price rises," and the airline would be looking at a range of options to mitigate these additional costs.
First-quarter unit revenues rose 6.6 percent over the corresponding period and load factor increased to 73 percent.
Passenger traffic at Bahrain International Airport increased 24 percent and throughput at Gulf Air’s second hub, Seeb International Airport in Muscat, grew 20 percent.
Hogan said the carrier intends to sign an MOU for wide-body aircraft to replace nine 767s "in the next few months."