Gulf Air handles service internally to cut costs

Gulf Air has announced that it is insourcing its Fleet Technical Management (FTM) responsibility. “This is a major milestone for Gulf Air as we take charge of full FTM responsibility, demonstrating our strong in-house technical expertise,” Samer Majali, Gulf Air CEO, said. “In-sourcing is a key part of our overall business strategy as it allows us to refocus on our engineering and maintenance systems and processes so that we achieve technical self-reliance and self-sufficiency,” he told the media at a Bahrain International Airport hangar. The move gives the company full control over the quality of aircraft servicing and safety standards, operational reliability, a robust aircraft maintenance system, fleet planning and availability, the CEO said. “We are proud now that we have our own team of qualified engineers and highly skilled technicians with several years of experience, who will now take over the responsibility. I also see potential opportunities for more, technically qualified Bahrainis to join the national carrier in the near future,” said Majali, who was appointed Gulf Air chief in 2009. “In addition, by insourcing, we are significantly reducing the maintenance cost, resulting in much-needed cost-savings to the company. We aspire that soon Bahrain has its own full-fledged MRO [maintenance, repair and overhaul] entity that will not only take care of Gulf Air fleet’s maintenance but also undertake fleet maintenance for other airlines and thus make Bahrain an aviation MRO hub in the region.” Gulf Air will now be performing on its own all aircraft maintenance, up to and including A-checks. It will also be fully managing its Continued Airworthiness Management Organisation (Camo) functions that include engineering support services, aircraft systems and propulsion engineering, technical planning, airworthiness review and maintenance of fleet technical records, the company said. In addition, Gulf Air will fully manage its Inventory Technical Management (ITM) covering materials planning, warehouse and logistics, warranty and repair management and technical procurement.