Eight women have become the first all-female Bahraini batch to graduate as Gulf Air cabin crew, in an initiative by the airline and Tamkeen, Bahrain’s labour fund.

Gulf Air has traditionally relied on foreign women to work as female cabin crew due to the conservative nature of many Bahraini families.

A few Bahraini women have joined the airline as cabin crew in the past, but this is the first time a group of Bahraini women have collected their wings in one batch.

Among them was Amira Al Mahmeed, from East Riffa, who said it was her dream to work for an airline and travel the world.

The 23-year-old, who holds a Bachelor's degree in computer graphics from New York Institute of Technology (NYIT), did not hesitate when she heard about the Gulf Air recruitment initiative in February.

"I feel part of a group of pioneers changing the image of cabin crew and I would encourage other people to join if they want something different and not a desk job," Al Mahmeed said.

Female Bahraini cabin crew have the option of working only on short flights that do not require them to spend nights abroad.

The eight women graduated in a ceremony at the Gulf Hotel's Gulf Convention Centre attended by their family and friends, Gulf Air senior management and Tamkeen representatives.

"The country has eight new ambassadors and the airline has eight new cabin crew," said Samer Majali, CEO, Gulf Air.

"The induction of Bahraini cabin crew underpins one of the key components of our new strategy of providing passengers with warm and friendly traditional Arabian hospitality on which Gulf Air's reputation is built," he added.

Gulf Air is the first airline in the GCC to launch such a recruitment drive for female nationals, but Majali reassured parents of prospective cabin crew that they had nothing to worry about.

"They (Bahraini women) have the choice to choose the restricted schedule or the whole system (regional and international flights)," added Majali. "So we can assure Bahraini families if they are apprehensive that they can sleep in their own homes. We also transport them door to door - we give them total care from their homes to Gulf Air."

Gulf Air's overall Bahrainisation level is 52 per cent, with 79 per cent of the airline's senior and middle management positions held by Bahrainis.

It currently employs around 1,200 members of cabin crew, 27 per cent of whom are Bahrainis.

The next group of Bahraini women to be trained as cabin crew will start their eight-week course on August 11. – TradeArabia News Service