Krešimir Kučko resigned as CEO of Croatia Airlines earlier this year.
Former CEO of Croatia Airlines Krešimir Kučko was appointed the new chief executive officer of Gulf Air, the Bahraini national airline, the company announced in a press release, reports Jutarnji List on November 13, 2017.
Zayed Bin Rashid Alzayani, chairman of Gulf Air’s Board of Directors, welcomed Kučko to his new post.
“On behalf of the airline’s board of directors and executive management team, I welcome Mr Kučko to the Gulf Air family. He brings with him exceptional industry knowledge that I’m confident will add considerable value to our business, and I look forward to the journey ahead for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s national carrier,” said Alzayani, according to the company’s website.
Kučko resigned as Croatia Airlines’ CEO earlier this year, and his term of office at the head of the company’s management board ended on 4 November. At the end of last month, the media reported that he had received an offer from Gulf Air, which was presented as the reason for his departure from the Croatian company.
Former Gulf Air’s CEO Maher Salman Al Musallam resigned in June this year, following an unsuccessful struggle with debts and massive losses. Gulf Air was once the largest airline in the Middle East, but its decline began after Qatar withdrew from the company in 2002. Three years later, Abu Dhabi left it as well, followed by Oman in 2007.
Gulf Air now manages a fleet of 28 aircraft but is in the process of a major upgrade and expansion of the fleet. There are currently on order 29 new Airbus A320neo aircraft, 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and 10 Bombardier CS100 regional aircraft. Kučko will lead the company throughout the entire fleet extension period.
According to Gulf Air’s website, “Kučko brings a wealth of international aviation experience to his new position at Gulf Air, having held roles in the airline industry for the past 25 years. He joins the airline’s recently appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Captain Waleed Abdulhameed Al Alawi, at a significant time in the airline’s history as it prepares to receive a new fleet consisting of new Boeing and Airbus aircraft due for delivery commencing in early 2018.”
