GULF AIR PLANS NON-STOP TO PARIS, RENEWAL OF AGING FLEET

UNCLAS MUSCAT 000539

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/TRA/AN (LJONES),AND EB/CBA
(BBEHRENS)
DEPARTMENT PASS DOT FOR OST (SHATLEY)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
SUBJECT: GULF AIR PLANS NON-STOP TO PARIS, RENEWAL OF AGING
FLEET

REF: A. MUSCAT 385

B. 05 MUSCAT 1436


1. (SBU) On April 4, the Gulf Air Area Manager for Muscat,
Bennet Stephens (protect) told the DCM that on April 6, Gulf
Air charter planes would be bringing 250 French tour agents
to Oman for a 4 day/5 night familiarization/marketing tour of
the Sultanate, paid for and sponsored by the Omani Ministry
of Tourism. Stephens added that on July 1, Gulf Air would
begin direct flights to Paris.


2. (SBU) According to Stephens, Abu Dhabi's final decision to
pull out of the regional partnership (leaving Bahrain and
Oman as Gulf Air's sole owners) happened more quickly than
expected, despite persistent rumor long before the fact. "We
have our 9/11, too," he said, explaining that from the
announcement of Abu Dhabi's pull out on September 11, 2005
until December 11, just three months later, Gulf Air had to
increase its traffic in and out of Muscat's Seeb
International Airport from 90 flights a week to 220 (Note:
Stephens' figures are slightly higher than those reported in
a recent Gulf Air press release. End note.)


3. (SBU) Stephens said that he did not expect Oman to pull
out of Gulf Air, despite rumors to the contrary. "The Sultan
has a very personal attachment to Gulf Air," he opined,
noting that HM remembered the airline when it started during
his father's reign and there were virtually no other carriers
in the southern Gulf.


4. (SBU) Stephens added that the carrier had reached an
agreement with Oman Air to focus on long haul routes, while
Oman's national carrier would service only routes five hours
or less out of Muscat. He said a "major announcement" would
be made on May 18th concerning refurbishing Gulf Air's aging
fleet, but offered no details.
GRAPPO