Gulf Air's all-economy subsidiary Gulf Traveller starts services on 1 June from Abu Dhabi on the airline's existing services to Africa and the Indian subcontinent.
The division, part of chief executive James Hogan's three-year recovery plan for the airline, is taking six Boeing 767-300ERs from its parent.
It will operate from Gulf Air's second hub in Abu Dhabi on Gulf Air leisure routes to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, as well as Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. It will also reopen Gulf Air's old route to Zanzibar, Tanzania, which was suspended in February last year, operating twice weekly from Abu Dhabi and Muscat.
Earlier this year, Hogan outlined his plans for the new division (Flight International, 1-7 April), which could include longer-term expansion to serve destinations in northern England, the Middle East and South-East Asia. Gulf Traveller's pilots will be shifted from the airline's main hub in Bahrain, but cabin crew will be recruited locally.
Source: Flight International
