Kuwait Airways to buy eight Airbus A330-800neo aircraft
Step towards large-scale fleet overhaul Citizens urged to visit nearest centers to finalise transactions
Kuwait Airways delegation during their visit to the Airbus factory in the French city of Toulouse.
By Mariam Al-Zanki TOULOUSE, France, Oct 15, (KUNA): Kuwait’s national carrier, Kuwait Airways, said on Monday that it has signed a deal to purchase eight aircraft from the medium to long-range Airbus A330-800neo family.
The planes are much more fuel-efficient than their predecessors, Kuwait Airways’ Chairman Yousef Al-Jassem told KUNA, describing the deal as a step towards a largescale fleet overhaul.
He said that the deal, which adds a wide array of neo aircraft to Kuwait Airways’ fleet, was the culmination of five months’ worth of negotiations, with the company set to receive the complete order no later than the tail end of 2026.
On a newly-opened terminal at Kuwait International Airport, he revealed that Kuwait’s flag carrier will launch flights to Europe out of the terminal starting next week, followed by other destinations in the Indian Subcontinent and Asia Pacific, in addition to Iran and the United States.
Kuwait Airways’ chairman added that the new terminal solely serves the national carrier, thanking the Kuwaiti government for their steadfast support over the years.
Airbus’ Chief Operations Officer Christian Shearer hailed the deal as productive endeavor that would bring both sides closer together, acknowledging Kuwait Airways as among the most reputable airlines in the world.
He added that Airbus’ relationship with Kuwait Airways dates back years, hoping that the deal would be launchpad for closer ties.
Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) hosted the “Matchmaking meeting between Qatari and Kuwaiti private sectors”, which was organized by Qatar Development Bank (QDB) in partnership with the Ernst & Young Company.
According to a press release, KCCI was represented in the meeting by the board member and Head of financial and advisory committee Wafa Ahmad Al-Qatami, while the Executive Director for Export Promotion in Qatar Export Development Agency (Tasdeer) Hassan Khalifa AlMansouri represented QDB.
This meeting, which was held on Oct 15-16, was within the framework of preparing a Kuwaiti market study for evaluating the feasibility of the available commercial opportunities in various sectors such as plastic, aluminum, iron, medicine, food, furniture, oil and gas, paint, mechanical equipment, light, electronic circuits and consumer goods.
In her statement, Al-Qatami said the meeting also aimed at developmental investment and commercial relations between the two countries.
She indicated that the Qatari business community is well aware about the essential components and characteristics of the Kuwaiti economy, especially after issuance of new legislations and amendments to the laws, all of which contributed to bettering the business environment and rendering it more attractive to foreign investors.
Meanwhile, Hassan Al-Mansouri gave a brief introduction about QDB and its objectives in the process of economic development through facilitation of all consultation and financial services for small and medium enterprises, as well as its role in promoting and developing the Qatari private sector.
Wafa Al-Qatami KAC represented by Yousef Al-Jassem signs agreement with AIRBUS representive
Minister of Health Sheikh Dr Bassel Al-Sabah speaking during an open meeting with the doctors working in the ministry in the Diwaniya of the Kuwaiti
Medical Association