“Capital follows confidence” as defence courts private money
Outside investment and the direction in which venture money flows may reveal what defence will buy years before formal programmes begin.
Two Embraer 170s delivered to Gulf Air
As part of a lease agreement signed by Embraer and Gulf Air just after the Bahrain International Airshow in January, Embraer has delivered two E-170s to the Bahrain-based carrier.
“The delivery of these Embraer 170s to Gulf Air is a significant milestone for Embraer, as this renowned airline certainly strengthens the presence of the E-Jets family in the Middle East,” commented Mauro Kern, Embraer executive vice-president, airline market. “I would like to assure our friends from Gulf Air of our full commitment in supporting the realisation of their strategic growth plans with Embraer E-Jets.”
Gulf Air’s E-170s are configured in a dual-class layout, featuring seven seats in business class and 60 in economy. The aircraft, which feature a state-of-the-art inflight entertainment (IFE) system, will be based at Gulf Air’s hub, in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
“The arrival of the new Embraer 170s marks a significant achievement, as we continue to implement our strategy,” noted Gulf Air chief executive officer, Samer Majali. “The aircraft will bring a new dynamic to Gulf Air and a new dimension to our customers, while reinforcing our position as the carrier with the largest number of Middle East connections through our Bahrain Airport hub.”
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