Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has appointed Ms. Shams Al Doseri as the new Country Manager for its Ethiopia station in Addis Ababa.
This appointment makes Ms. Al Doseri the first Bahraini female to run a Gulf Air station. With eight years of airline sales experience in Gulf Air’s hub station in Bahrain, Ms. Al Doseri was selected to represent Gulf Air in Ethiopia and manage the airline’s office in its capital.
The airline operates flights to and from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia since 2011 and with this appointment, Ms. Al Doseri will take on the challenge of further strengthening Gulf Air’s growth in Africa. Ms. Al Doseri has been part of the Gulf Air family for eight years, in which she started as a sales executive and then promoted to a sales manager before her recent appointment as country manager abroad.
“I am very proud and delighted to take this challenge and be the first Bahraini woman in Gulf Air to represent the national carrier outside the Kingdom.” Ms Al Doseri added at the announcement of her promotion, “This assignment is of a national nature to me as I will not only promote my airline but also promote my beloved country to the world by encouraging more passengers to fly Gulf Air to or via Bahrain.”
Gulf Air is committed to invest in its Bahraini workforce and their career development and as such, it continues to provide opportunities for Bahraini nationals to take over senior positions in the company. Earlier this year Gulf Air welcomed the return of its Country Manager UK to its headquarter in Bahrain to take on the role of Senior Manager Sales managing the entire Europe and Asia Pacific regions.
With 90% of employees that are based at the headquarters in Muharraq being Bahraini along with nearly 70% of its pilots, Gulf Air is a leader in the Bahrainisation programme in the Kingdom as it provides the opportunity for local talents and experienced personnel to work in its various areas of the airline’s business.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, commenced operations in 1950, becoming one of the first commercial airlines established in the Middle East. Today, Gulf Air is a major international carrier serving 49 cities in 27 countries.
The airline operates double daily flights or more to 10 regional cities, in addition to select destinations in the Indian Subcontinent and Europe, from its hub at Bahrain International Airport. Gulf Air currently serves all its destinations with a combination of wide and narrow body fleet of 37 aircraft. The airline received 5 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner’s and 1 Airbus A320neo aircraft in 2018.
In 2019 the airline will further receive 2 Dreamliner’s and 4 A320neos in 2019. The modern fleet will herald a new era for Gulf Air as it continues to enhance its product and service offering. Renowned for its traditional Arabian hospitality, evidenced by the airline’s signature family and business friendly products, Gulf Air is committed to being an industry leader and developing products and services that reflect the evolving needs and aspirations of its passengers.
Gulf Air connects Bahrain to the world and, as such, is a key national infrastructure asset, serving as a powerful driver for the economy and supporting the Kingdom’s on-going economic growth. With its mobile app and Bahrain stopover programme, the airline promotes Bahrain as a tourist destination to the world.
Gulf Air has been the Title Sponsor of the FORMULA 1 GULF AIR BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX ever since it made history as the first Formula 1 Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East in 2004. In addition, the airline has been Official Carrier of the biennial Bahrain International Airshow since it was first held in 2010.