Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced the appointment of Maen Abdulhaleem as General Manager Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
Mr Abdulhaleem, a Jordanian national, moved from Beirut, where he was Gulf Air General Manager-Lebanon, for one and a half years, prior to this appointment, which is based in Abu Dhabi.
“With responsibility for all aspects of our operation in Abu Dhabi both an exciting and challenging time, given the vigorous initiatives that are underway to meet the challenges of the aviation industry in the present competitive climate,” said Gulf Air Vice President Marketing and Sales Danny Barranger.
Mr Abdulhaleem’s career in the aviation industry spans more than 13 years, of which eight have been with Gulf Air.
With an MBA in marketing from Poona University, he is no stranger to Abu Dhabi having spent four years as sales manager.
Other posts in Dar Es Salaam as General Manager Tanzania and Zanzibar and has provided him with an in-depth experience in customer service and sales and marketing.
"I am delighted to be back in Abu Dhabi and looking forward to my new assignment,” said Mr Abdulhaleem.
“The current market is extremely challenging but Gulf Air is well equipped to meet those challenges. Our products and services are second to none and in particular the First and Business class offering is unmatched globally and we have a state of the art sales centre in the capital.
“I am excited to be back in Abu Dhabi, the market here is growing and the potential is enormous. I am looking forward to meeting some old colleagues as well as meeting new ones. With the development of our new products and new routes, Gulf Air will continue to lead the market. As the National carrier of Abu Dhabi it is a delight and honor to lead the sales team.”
About Gulf Air
Gulf Air was founded in 1950. Today, it is owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and is the only truly pan Gulf carrier in the region. The airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 44 cities in 30 countries. The fleet is one of the most modern in the Middle East and comprises 34 aircraft.
The airline, in the last year of a three-year strategic recovery programme, headed by President and Chief Executive James Hogan, is making rapid strides towards regaining profitability in 2005 and aims to further evolve by taking its renowned cultural strengths, which have been gained over more than half a century, into a global environment.
The dramatic turnaround in Gulf Air’s fortunes has won international recognition. In January 2004, The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) presented the airline with the prestigious Airline Turnaround of the Year Award for 2003. Gulf Air was also the recipient of the 2003 Platinum Award for the Best Airline in the Middle East and North Africa, recognising the airline’s commitment to service excellence.
Winner - Middle East and North African Platinum Best Airline Travel Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Most Improved Airline Award 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best First Class Onboard Food Category 2004
Winner - Skytrax Best Business Class Check-in Category 2004
Official Airline and Sponsor of the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2005
