Sir - In your article "Gulf Air boss calls for action" (Flight International, 3-9 April, P10), you state that "...it is understood that there will be no more expatriate commands and contracts will not be renewed".
This is untrue. Gulf Air, as the national carrier of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has always held a well-publicised, long-term, training programme for Gulf national pilots, but this has not changed into an accelerated replacement of expatriates. In fact, nothing has changed in our policy towards expatriate flightcrew.
Gulf Air continues to value the expertise and commitment of all of its technical crew.
ABDULLA ABDUL KARIM
Public relations manager and secretary to the board
Gulf Air
Bahrain
Source: Flight International