A BAHRAIN carrier is expanding its operations with services to more destinations shortly, it was revealed yesterday.

A third aircraft will join the fleet of the privately-owned premium low-priced carrier Bahrain Air before the start of summer, said managing director Ibrahim Al Hamer.

The airline, which operates on two leased aircraft, now flies to six destinations - Dubai, Doha, Mashhad (Iran), Beirut, Damascus and Amman.

Three more destinations - Alexandria (Egypt), Kuwait and Dhaka - will be added within a month, Mr Al Hamer told the GDN.

He was speaking after the official opening of the airline's Manama sales office at Yateem Centre yesterday.

Chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa opened the new office in the presence of other board members and guests.

A fourth brand new aircraft will join the Bahrain Air fleet by April next year, said Mr Al Hamer.

"For our operations beyond 2012, we are already having negotiations with three aircraft manufacturers - Boeing, Airbus and the Brazil-based Embraer - for the purchase of six aircraft," he revealed.

"We have already recruited 145 staff and 70 per cent of them are Bahrainis. However, if we exclude the cabin crew and pilots, Bahrainis will come to about 96pc."

When the third aircraft joins the fleet, Bahrain Air will create an additional 30 jobs, said Mr Al Hamer.

"The current load factor is just above 50pc. However, we are extremely delighted at our on-time performance, which stands at 99pc."

The Airbus A320 aircraft operates for Bahrain Air with 12 seats on the business class and 150 on the economy.

Bahraini board members Faisal Jawad and Ali Al Musallam and Saudi investors Osama Al Saeed and Nasser Al Mansoor also attended the ceremony.

The company has an authorised capital of BD10 million and a fully paid up capital of BD8m.