Bahrain flag carrier Gulf Air has appointed Martin Gauss as its new chief executive officer, effective November 4, 2025.
Gauss was formerly CEO of Latvian airline airBaltic, before he was ousted from the role in April. Gauss had confirmed the decision to part from the airline was “not mine”. Gauss' relationship with the majority government-owned airline became strained after the airline cancelled 4,670 flights for its summer 2025 schedule at the start of the year, citing unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance related to the GTF engine.
In an interview with Airline Economics following the incident, Gauss said the cancellations were a result of a forecast received from Pratt & Whitney. The forecast had significantly increased the anticipated aircraft on ground (AOG) for the summer season.
“That caused our problem because it was too late for us to react, and we had to find a way to mitigate the impact,” said Gauss at the time. He had said at the time that he had no intention of stepping down.
The chairman of Gulf Air Group Khalid Tawi said he was confident in Gauss' ability to advance the airline's competitiveness and expand its global network, as well as improve its operational efficiency.
“The airline has a rich legacy as Bahrain's national carrier, and I look forward to working with the team to build on this strong foundation,” commented Gauss in a statement. “Together, we will continue Gulf Air's transformation journey and enhance its competitiveness regionally and globally.”
The airline's group CEO Jeffrey Goh disclosed he will also depart from his role. He said: “We faced exceptional challenges and advanced the group’s transformation toward the future. Gulf Air Group has a proud legacy that positions it for continued growth and success.”
Gauss began his aviation career as a pilot and later held senior leadership positions at several European Airlines, including CEO of Deutsche BA, which later merged with Air Berlin, and CEO of Cirrus Airlines in Germany.
airBaltic recently appointed Erno Hilden as its new CEO to succeed Gauss, with its interim CEO Paul Calitis continuing his role as chief operating officer and as a member of the executive board.
Prior to airBaltic's leadership changes, the airline had been aiming to launch its initial public offering (IPO) this year, with it now slipping to 2026.