DOHA - Bahrain Air's inaugural flight to Doha landed bang on time yesterday at 8.15am. Flight 2B111 brought in a handful of passengers along with senior officials of the airline to the city.
The return flight departed Doha at 9am following a brief welcome ceremony at Doha International Airport's VIP lounge. On hand were Captain Ibrahim Al Hamer, Bahrain Air Managing Director, Ali Al Musalam, Board Member and Akbar Al Baker, Qatar Airways CEO. Officials from Regency Travel & Tours, led by Tareq Abdullatif Taha, General Manager, were also present.
Regency is the general sales agent for Bahrain Air here.
Al Hamer spoke of his airline, which officially came into existence on February 1. It has a fleet of Airbus A320 and Boeing 737-800 aircraft taken on dry lease. The initial number of three is expected to increase to seven by 2010. Bahrain Air is set to enter into negotiations with aircraft manufacturers to acquire planes it can call its very own.
The private airline is the country's second national carrier along with Gulf Air. Bahraini investors hold a 68 percent stake in the carrier with the remaining 32 percent owned by Saudi businessmen. Bahrain Air has an authorized capital of BD10m (QR96.4m) and a paid-up capital of BD8m (QR77.55m).
Welcoming the airline to Doha, Al Baker said: "This is another new entrant in one week to Doha Airport (the other being Indian private carrier Jet Airways). We are proud to know that we are the second destination in Bahrain Air's network."
"We will give the highest standard of facilities (at the airport) and we hope Bahrain Air expands like Qatar Airways did. Very soon, we will have 120 aircraft," he said.
© The Peninsula 2008
