Bahrain's leaders have vowed to provide a fresh lease of life to the state-owned carrier Gulf Air to ensure its continuity.

'Being the national carrier, it will always get absolute state support,' His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, pledged yesterday.

'Backing the national carrier is a duty and protecting employees' rights is essential,' the two leaders said.

They vowed to salvage the national carrier as they met yesterday to discuss the current plight of Gulf Air.

'Restructuring the company to ensure its continuity and overcome its difficulties is a national necessity', they said.

They stressed the need to back Gulf Air, citing its strategic importance as a key pillar of the national economy and its status as an iconic aviation symbol in the region.

The need to mobilise all official efforts to restructure the airline was highlighted. 'Logic and long-standing history covering five decades plead in favour of backing Gulf Air and make such a support a compelling necessity', they said.

They described it as an outstanding symbol for civil aviation in Bahrain and the Gulf and a trademark for promoting the kingdom abroad.

The Premier and the Crown Prince discussed proposals tabled by the Economic Development Board to restructure the company.

The Premier vowed that the government would never let Gulf Air down and would lead it on the path to success.