Pilots plea to fly: Bahraini pilots appeal to kingdoms national carrier for employment

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Thirty Bahraini pilots have appealed to the kingdom’s national carrier for employment after losing their jobs with GCC airlines during the global pandemic.

The pilots, who have years of experience, are struggling with financial problems and face possible jail time if they cannot find alternative employment to help clear their debts.

Their appeal was backed by MP Zainab Abdulameer who fears that 30 Bahraini families may be on the verge of losing their breadwinner.

JOBS

“It is the national duty of Gulf Air as the kingdom’s carrier to take on these Bahraini pilots who have lost their jobs at other GCC airlines who are no longer able to pay their wages,” Ms Abdulameer told the GDN.

“They were fired because of the global pandemic and these are 30 Bahraini families who are at great risk of slipping into serious financial troubles which may lead to imprisoning their breadwinners.

“I have a comprehensive list with the names of 30 citizens, their accredited degrees and expertise who have all lost their jobs.

“They are the best choice for employment, in my opinion, as they have experience ranging from three to eight years so they should be the priority for pilots at the national carrier.”

Ms Abdulameer also believes that this was a golden opportunity for Gulf Air to further increase the Bahrainisation of its pilots – which currently stands at 70 per cent according to the results of Parliament’s investigatory probe into Bahrainisation across various sectors.

She urged Gulf Air and the authorities concerned to help the pilots and believes it’s a ‘national duty’ to step forward during these difficult times.

“These pilots all have accredited degrees and experience as they have been working for reputable GCC airlines, so they will be an asset to Gulf Air,” she added. “They are citizens and must be the priority for employment.”

The GDN reported on July 7 that Gulf Air, which normally operated as many as 160 flights a day, has had to reduce its services to four flights a week due to Covid-19.

This was revealed by Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister and Gulf Air chairman Zayed Alzayani who highlighted that this was mainly due to decisions and policies taken by other countries.

He stated that although Bahrain International Airport was kept operational as part of efforts to maintain connectivity but there were days with no flights as other countries passed decisions to close airports in order to curb the spread of the virus.

Bahrain was also placed on the red list in parts of Europe after a recent spike in Covid-19 cases making expensive and lengthy hotel quarantine necessary for expatriates returning home. With numbers decreasing it is hoped that Bahrain will be removed from the UK red list, for example, later this week.

Gulf Air had not commented on the ‘pilot jobs proposal’ by the time the GDN went to press.

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