Airlines Extra GF flights for year-end rush November 2003 372 Share Gulf Air is to operate extra services into the UK to cater for the strong demand over the holiday period in December and January. The present 24 weekly flights into London’s Heathrow Airport will be supplemented with an additional 14 flights, which will operate between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain and London Gatwick Airport on Airbus A340 aircraft. “From past experience, we know that demand is heavy over this peak period,” said vice president marketing and sales John Butler. “Families across the world want to be together to celebrate the season. The addition of extra flights will give our customers more flexibility when it comes to booking flights and will ensure that there are enough seats to cope with the heavier demand. “There are strong forward bookings for December and January, following on the trend established by our record performance in summer. “People intending to fly over this period, would be well advised to book early to secure flights. We have secured slots between 11 and 22 December, and then again from 2 to 8 January 2004,” said Butler. “This will allow customers to arrive in the UK just in time for last minute shopping,” he said. “In addition to some exciting new product and service innovations which will be released in the next two weeks, these services demonstrate our commitment to offering our customers the best possible service.”