Bahrain’s national airline supremo tackled head on accusations levelled against him by MPs as ‘conspiracy theories rather than rational thinking’ in a straight talking response.
The successful businessman brushed aside any suggestions that his position influenced commercial decisions made by Gulf Air during Parliament’s session yesterday.
The accusations were made against Gulf Air Holding Group chairman Zayed Alzayani by MP Jameel Hassan during a debate on the findings of a probe into the carrier’s affairs.
“Mr Alzayani’s family business owns Costa Coffee and its branches are filling Bahrain International Airport and he owns the Mitsubishi dealership, the rental cars available at the airport.”
Transportation and Telecommunications Minister Mohammed Al Kaabi takes part in a debate on Gulf Air in Parliament
Mr Alzayani pointed out the intricacies of the corporate world to the parliamentarians.
“It is the family business, but I am not involved in bids or tenders,” he said.
“The family owns the Mitsubishi franchise but it is rent-a-car companies that ran for the tenders, and their cars could have been Toyota.
“Just ask second deputy speaker Ahmed Qarata, his company won the car rental service tender.”
Meanwhile, Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk raised the issue of expatriates holding executive positions with salaries to match.
“We understand it’s a diverse airline, but having a Lebanese as Bahrain station manager or an Arab national in Dammam as station manager is unacceptable – where is the commitment to Bahrainisation?
“Also an air hostess was promoted to head of security in Gulf Air because her husband was a famous photographer!” he claimed.
MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said a parliamentary delegation was recently forced to go to Cairo and then Azerbaijan because Iranian airspace was shut to it.
“We, as MPs, only fly Gulf Air despite the hassle,” he said.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairwoman Zainab Abdulamir demanded the opening of Iranian, Syrian and Iraqi destinations while shutting Tel Aviv.
Fifteen recommendations to improve the airline were unanimously approved and sent to the government for review, which Mr Alzayani pledged would be taken seriously.
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