Gulf Air considers legal action

Paraguayan airline is replacing its livery with one almost identical to the Gulf carrier's markings.

The distinctive livery of Gulf Air and, below, the almost identical markings that Regional Paraguaya plans to apply to its aircraft.

Gulf Air is considering its legal options after a Paraguayan airline released details of a new livery almost identical to the Manama-based carrier's gold and white design. Regional Paraguaya, based at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asuncion, is replacing its traditional white markings and red logo with a new design that features Gulf Air's colour scheme, even down to the purple diagonal stripe and a golden falcon on the tail. "Only the feet of the falcon are missing," Bjorn Naf, the departing chief executive of Gulf Air, was quoted as saying in Air Transport Intelligence magazine this week. Gulf Air denied that it approved allowing its livery design to be used by Regional Paraguaya, a charter airline that began operations in July last year and which carries the new livery on its website. The airline reportedly operates two Boeing 737-200s serving Ciudad del Este, in southern Paraguay, with plans to increase its fleet to four aircraft and its network to 13 cities in nine Latin American countries. Regional Paraguaya could not immediately be reached for comment. "There has been no agreement of any kind to sell or license Gulf Air's livery rights to any other airlines," the company said. "We will take whatever steps we deem necessary to preserve the integrity of our brand." Saleem Adam, from the law firm at Trowers & Hamlins, said enforcement of intellectual property rights in other countries is difficult. The strength of the Gulf Air case depended on whether it registered its trademark in Latin America, whether any bilateral treaties relating to intellectual property rights existed between Bahrain and Paraguay, and the level of protection Paraguay gave to intellectual property rights under its laws, Mr Adam said. "A second step could be writing a strong letter to this particular airline saying: 'Your design is very similar to ours, and we will follow all the legal routes if you do not stop this infringement'," he said. A Gulf Air spokeswoman said the airline was investigating whether Regional Paraguaya had already painted its aircraft in the design, or whether the design was only being marketed on its website. According to Skyliner Aviation, an online magazine, one Regional Paraguaya aeroplane has already been painted in Gulf Air's colours and is waiting to be delivered from Lima, Peru. Gulf Air introduced its livery design to its fleet in 2003, after hiring the design firm Landor Associates, based in San Francisco. It is preparing to introduce a new livery that has been held a close secret. Last week, Mr Naf stepped down after serving at the company's helm for two and a half years. The company announced Samer Majali, the former chief executive of Royal Jordanian, as his replacement. [e-mail]