A joint committee has been formed to prepare a study on the future of Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air, said a senior government official.

The urgent decision was made by parliament chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani yesterday, following a meeting with MPs, Shura Council members, cabinet ministers and Mumtalakat and Gulf Air officials.

The mandate of the temporary committee, which will include members of the National Assembly, states that it would look into the circumstances surrounding the airline's strategies regionally and internationally.

It will also evaluate its general performance and major developmental plans.

Al Dhahrani said the committee was formed to help Gulf Air stand on its feet again and assume its role as a reputed airline.

During the meeting, a presentation was conducted on the airline's situation, problems and challenges. MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the airline's performance over previous years, which have shown a sharp drop.

Present at the meeting, chaired by Al Dhahrani, were Shura Council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh, parliament financial and economic affairs committee chairman Ali Al Durazi, council financial and economic affairs committee Khalid Al Maskati and senior MPs and councillors.

Representing the Cabinet were Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, Cabinet Affairs Minister Kamal Ahmed and Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

It follows the cabinet's decision on Sunday to restructure the airline in line with operational requirements and reduce the effective size of its challenges, commitments and costs while maintaining the national workforce. – TradeArabia News Service