Kuwait Aviation Thread

[Skoulikimou]

Originally Posted by Halawala

Kuwait's $3bn plane deal aborted



WHy???????

http://www.majlesalommah.net/

[CrazY]

lol,, classic.... i mean common just privatize a-holes

[qwazy]

OMG

seriously, the entire country needs a kick in the butt, nothing is moving forward

even saudi arabian is being privatised

wat are those dumbos gonna do with the oil money? invest it in someone else's country?!?!?!

it's about time sheikh sabah al ahmad dissolves the parliament and makes me the prime minister.........

[CrazY]

again the parliament isn't the only problem in Kuwait!!! if the any government in this world wants something it can have it.... ya3ni we are not short on cash and the state of kuwait airway is shit!! so why did they disapprove of the deal

[qwazy]

both the parliament and the cabinet are useless

even if one of them was any good

the parliament seems to be interested in nothing but grillings and other lame sh*t

the cabinet seems more incompetent than paris hilton

[ChaoticTranquility]

why the HELL would the government do that?

Kuwait Airways, the NATIONAL carrier, the face of Kuwait in the airline community is nothing but pure, hot, steaming camel shit. we've all been through it: horrific service, prehistoric facilities, delapidated aircrafts, and frustrating handling. not to mention riddled corruption. what i (and i'm sure plenty of others) want to know is why the airline continuously reports annual losses when all they do is have full flights! i lived in Cairo, Egypt and i know for a fact that there used to be up to four flights a day during peak seasons, all fully booked without any seats to spare. if Cairo is one example from Kuwait Airways' 35+ destinations and a lot of them are full and/or have multiple flights a day, THEN WHY IS THE AIRLINE LOSING MONEY EVERY YEAR?

government corruption is our ultimate bane. with officials looting the country blind, we're the ones who are gonna suffer. when the oil runs out (frightfully sometime within our lifetimes), what are we going to do? rot in poverty? leave Kuwait and move somewhere else? forgive me, but i feel that even our highest officials are thieving and deceiving. i mean, why would the Emir of Kuwait, a member of one of the richest families in the world, increase his salary to 150 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR? (as if he wasn't rich enough.) if there's corruption at the top, then we can't expect anything better towards the bottom. what we need here is reform.

it's been said in this thread (obviousness aside) that Kuwait's a financially-loaded country. if that's really the case, why doesn't the government invest a FRACTION of the country's money into upgrading the entire fleet? Kuwait recently reported the highest financial surplus ever recorded in the country's history. we're already among the richest nations in the world, and if we're making more money than ever, then why isn't it going to good use? Kuwaiti money isn't even being spent in Kuwait, it's going to international investments. we're pumping our money into foreign ground because investing in Kuwait is a lost cause with the corruption around us and the lack of motivated people to work for their country. brutal as it is, investing here is as hopeful as bringing the dead back to life.

the government is one tragically, catastrophically big mistake. an impediment to development, a growing cancer. the people in charge of this country are gonna take it straight to Hell. isn't it enough that Kuwait is the tail in the development of the Gulf? with Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and EVEN Saudi Arabia going waaaaaaaaay ahead - it's over for us. investors come to us with ideas, things that nobody has ever seen before, and we turn them down. what happens next? they go next door, and then our neighbors are thrust into the spotlight. look at the Al Sharq Tower proposed next to the Arraya Center in downtown Kuwait. i'm willing to stake money that it won't get built because our dumbassed Municipality is too lazy to demolish a trashy fire station to construct a state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly, cutting-edge tower in its place. i want it to be known that i love this country and worry about it, and although this was a very negative post, i can't deny the reality and severity of our problems. the way we're going, we're screwed. people demolish, remove and cherish the old to make way for the new, but in Kuwait, we're a movie that's been paused a long time ago with no one willing to hit the play button.

kuwaiti_patriot

[CrazY]

its ok patriot get it all out

do you know what kuwait needs?... non kuwaiti citizens to run the country, or a revolution that should correct the mistakes or judgement day :P

i mean come on!! what is the government trying to do, frustrate the people even more or they are asking for kuwaitis to hatte their own country and rulers, i mean look at the money we have every sheikh, merchant and some citizens look at kuwait as a piece of pie, they want the bigger piece or all the pie ( ie money ) and they dont do anything about the country infrastructure, public health, security, economy... what happened to Mr. nasser almohammad i thought he was an e9la7y and tanmia and all the other crap promises ?

now they only care about who insulted the emir on the internet

[CrazY]

Kuwait Airways blames MPs for scrapped $3 bln order


KUWAIT, Aug 29 (Reuters) -

State-owned Kuwait Airways Corp [KA.UL] said on Wednesday it cancelled an initial order for 19 aircraft from a local firm because parliament refused to approve funding for the deal, worth about $3 billion.
"The reason behind the cancellation is that the budgets committee at parliament cancelled the allocations earmarked for that purpose," the airline said in a statement carried by the state-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).

Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co (Alafco) said on Tuesday Kuwait Airways had cancelled its order because the carrier had failed to get government approval.It did not give details.

Kuwait Airways said a draft law that would allow it to borrow to finance its fleet renewal programme had yet to be approved.

The loss-making airline was ordering the new aircraft from a lessor rather than direct from the manufacturers because it wanted delivery between 2009 and 2014.

Alafco had already ordered Boeing Co 787s that Kuwait Airways wanted and would have been able to deliver sooner than the makers.

Kuwait is in talks with Boeing and Airbus SAS about buying aircraft after the deal was scrapped, Kuwaiti newspapers reported on Wednesday.

Alafco said in June it had reached initial agreement with Kuwait Airways to sell it 19 787s and Airbus A320 aircraft.

A Kuwait Airways official told Reuters at the time the order for 12 787 "Dreamliners" and seven single-aisle A320s was worth about $3 billion. The carrier also took options for seven more A320s.

____________________________________________

why do we have to politicize everything in kuwait

[Skoulikimou]

i blame my mother

[CrazY]

KAC board to resign


Published Date: August 31, 2007

KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC)'s board of directors intends to collectively resign tomorrow. KAC sources noted that the chairman of the board and all five board members had decided to submit their resignation letters to the minister of telecommunications in protest to his direct interference in their work, namely on the recently cancelled new planes deal.

The chairman of the Board and Managing Director Sheikh Talal Al-Mubarak and board directors Abdullah Al-Hajri, Sulaimna Majed Al-Shaheen, Abdul Rasoul Abul Hassan, Sami Al-Nisf and Dr. Nabil Al-Loughani will resign their posts," said the sources noting that the decision came in protest on the minister's direct negotiating with the manufacturing companies and his visit to their factories after he cancelled KAC board's agreements with them.

The sources also noted that the board members intend to meet HH the premier to brief him in detail of cancelling the deal. Moreover, the sources warned of purchasing any planes that did not match the standard specifications approved by KAC's board of directors as well as of purchasing more aircrafts than they actually needed.

Kuwait times

[CrazY]

ALAFCO downplays cancellation of Kuwait Airways deal


KUWAIT CITY (AFP) - Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) on Sunday played down the cancellation of a multi-billion-dollar deal to sell 19 aircraft to Kuwait Airways Corp. (KAC).

"We have received requests from 18 local and foreign companies to lease our planes following the cancellation of the deal," the official KUNA news agency quoted ALAFCO chairman Ahmad al-Zabin as saying.

In June the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding under which KAC would buy 12 Boeing and seven Airbus aircraft for an estimated three billion dollars.

The deal was part of a major project by the state-owned KAC to modernise its ageing fleet of 15 Airbuses and two Boeings.

Its cancellation came after parliament and the Kuwaiti government agreed in early July to debate a bill that would transform the loss-making KAC into a shareholding public company operating on commercial basis.

However the debate was delayed until the next parliamentary term which opens on October 30, despite what appears to be overwhelming support for the plan that would see more than 70 percent of KAC stocks sold to citizens.

KAC, which has incurred more than two billions dollars in losses during the past 17 years, has repeatedly come under fire from parliamentarians who have charged the corporation of squandering public funds.

In July lawmakers approved recommendations by a three-MP committee of inquiry which called for top KAC executives to be referred to the public prosecutor over alleged financial and administrative irregularities.

Launched in 2000, ALAFCO currently owns 18 aircraft. Over the past 16 months it has placed orders for 66 Boeings and Airbuses as part of a plan to increase its fleet to more than 80 planes.

[Halawala]

Originally Posted by CrazY

ALAFCO downplays cancellation of Kuwait Airways deal
"We have received requests from 18 local and foreign companies to lease our planes following the cancellation of the deal," the official KUNA news agency quoted ALAFCO chairman Ahmad al-Zabin as saying.

Personally, ALAFCO is in a good position here, as 787's are hot selling like pancakes at the moment. And Kuwait Airways lost its chance to invest in the newest generation plane for the present future. The earlies it can get new 787s would be 2013 or even as late as 2015, as the production line is very well saturated for the forseable future. I hope other local airlines like WATANIYA airlines for example, or even Al-Jazeera Airways, will take the oportunity to invest in ALAFCO's planes--even though it does operate only narrowbodies.

Personally, KU seems to be edging more towards an Airbus fleet, with a possible A330 order--as it already operates a couple(?). Even A330s are selling and production is at full capacity at the moment. KU needs to get a massive multi-million dollar fleet revamp and onboard product not to compete with regional players like EK, QR, and EY; but also to offer its people a decent product and service.

Just my 2 dirhams

[newq8]

KAC plane safely returns to airport after minor incident

Communications 9/4/2007 7:51:00 PM



KUWAIT, Sept 4 (KUNA) -- A Kuwait Airways Company's (KAC) flight has safely returned to the airport after the crew had discovered smoke on board the plan, announced the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in Kuwait's international airport on Tuesday.
The Civil Aviation's Deputy General Manager for Safety Affairs and Air Transport Nabil Al-Zamel told reporters that KAC's Airbus-300 was on a flight to Dubai International airport when the smoke was detected by the crew, forcing the flight to return back to the Kuwait airport.
All precautions were taken to ensure the safe return of the passengers and the flight's crew, indicated Zamel, affirming the plane has landed safely. (end) hmm.gta KUNA 041951 Sep 07NNNN


http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesP...12&Language=en

[newq8]

ALAFCO, Airways National C. sign eight-year lease agreement

Communications 9/5/2007 8:13:00 PM



KUWAIT, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) and Kuwait National Airlines Company on Wednesday signed an agreement, by which the latter would lease three Airbuses for a period of eight years, starting January 2009.
The agreement would be a step toward future cooperation between the two Kuwaiti private companies in a strategic venue such as commercial air transportation, ALAFCO's Chairman and Executive Chief Ahmad Al-Zabin told reporters.
By this agreement, ALAFCO would provide the Airlines Company with state-of-the-art planes that would guarantee utmost comfort for its passengers, he added.
On his part, Kuwait National Airlines Chairman Abdussalam Al-Bahar expressed great content over cooperating with ALAFCO, which indicated significant growth of the industry in the Kuwaiti market.
ALAFCO is an emergent provider of innovative Sharia-based commercial aircraft leasing products, which involves ethical investing and are equity related, solely using the genuine asset or the cash-flow it generates. (end) amf.hb KUNA 052013 Sep 07NNNN


http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesP...23&Language=en

[Halawala]

Originally Posted by newq8

ALAFCO, Airways National C. sign eight-year lease agreement

Communications 9/5/2007 8:13:00 PM



KUWAIT, Sept 5 (KUNA) -- Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) and Kuwait National Airlines Company on Wednesday signed an agreement, by which the latter would lease three Airbuses for a period of eight years, starting January 2009.
The agreement would be a step toward future cooperation between the two Kuwaiti private companies in a strategic venue such as commercial air transportation, ALAFCO's Chairman and Executive Chief Ahmad Al-Zabin told reporters.
By this agreement, ALAFCO would provide the Airlines Company with state-of-the-art planes that would guarantee utmost comfort for its passengers, he added.
On his part, Kuwait National Airlines Chairman Abdussalam Al-Bahar expressed great content over cooperating with ALAFCO, which indicated significant growth of the industry in the Kuwaiti market.
ALAFCO is an emergent provider of innovative Sharia-based commercial aircraft leasing products, which involves ethical investing and are equity related, solely using the genuine asset or the cash-flow it generates. (end) amf.hb KUNA 052013 Sep 07NNNN


http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesP...23&Language=en

Im assuming this is unrelated to the B787's that were cancelled by KU?

[Skoulikimou]

Kuwait Airways board resigns

The board of Kuwait Airways, embroiled in a dispute with parliament over a $3 billion plane order, handed in their resignation yesterday, the state news agency Kuna said.

It quoted the acting communications minister, Abdulwahed Al Awadhi, as saying the cabinet would today consider the resignation of the state-owned airline's chairman and board members.

The carrier late last month cancelled an initial order for 19 aircraft from Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co (Alafco), saying parliament had refused to approve funding for the deal, worth about $3bn.

The airline said a law that would allow it to borrow to finance its fleet renewal programme had yet to be approved. The loss-making airline was ordering the new aircraft from a lessor rather than direct from the manufacturers because it wanted delivery between 2009 and 2014.

Alafco had already ordered Boeing 787s that Kuwait Airways wanted and would have been able to deliver sooner than the makers.

www.gulf-daily-news.com

[CrazY]

now what !!

the only they can do is turn it to a private company, and get it over with...

[CrazY]

Government accepts Kuwait Airways board resignation

KUWAIT, Sept 10 (Reuters)

Kuwait's government accepted on Monday the resignation of the board of state-run Kuwait Airways Corp, embroiled in a dispute with parliament over a $3 billion plane order.

The state news agency KUNA said the Gulf Arab state's cabinet also asked acting transport minister Abdulwahed al-Awadhi to submit a report on the problems the airline faced.

The carrier late last month cancelled an initial order for 19 aircraft from Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co (Alafco), saying parliament had refused to approve funding for the deal, worth about $3 billion.

The airline said a law that would allow it to borrow to finance its fleet renewal had yet to be approved.

The loss-making airline was ordering the new aircraft from a lessor rather than direct from the manufacturers because it wanted delivery between 2009 and 2014.

Alafco had already ordered Boeing Co 787s that Kuwait Airways wanted and would have been able to deliver sooner than the makers.

Kuwait is in talks with Boeing and Airbus about buying aircraft after the deal was scrapped, Kuwaiti newspapers said late last month.

[newq8]

KAC on its way to private sector

Communications 9/11/2007 8:31:00 PM



KUWAIT, Sept 11 (KUNA) -- The government and parliament of Kuwait are in agreement to privatize most of the services sectors, a senior government official said Tuesday.
Minister of State for Housing Affairs and acting Minister of Communications and National Assembly Affairs Abdulwahed Al-Awadhi told reporters after a National Assembly Housing Affairs committee meeting that there were coordinated efforts among members of Parliament to draft a bill to privatize Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC).
The legislative and executive authorities have agreed on the importance of maintaining the rights of Kuwaiti employees in KAC when privatized, including offering of additional benefits for them.
In response to questions about referring KAC's internal violations to the General Persecutor, Al-Awadhi said the case is on its way based on a recommendation by the National Assembly and KAC' Board of Directors. The government also approved to refer the violations to the Prosecutor. (end) ms.mb KUNA 112031 Sep 07NNNN

[Danny21]

Kuwait - and Dubai-based Jazeera Airways has increased passenger traffic at Kuwait International Airport (KIA) by 14 per cent in the first half of 2007, thereby continuing to fuel the phenomenal growth of the airport.

Passenger traffic at KIA increased by 20 per cent as a whole, with the remaining 6 per cent growth attributable to all other airlines operating to and from the airport.
The 20-month old airline also announced that 50 per cent of its customers had booked their flights on jazeeraairways.com – up 20 per cent from last year, and gained a network market share average of 38.2 per cent in the first half of 2007.
Jazeera Airways chairman and CEO Marwan Boodai said: "So far 2007 is a very exciting year for us. We grew our fleet, launched our second hub in Dubai, began flights to five new cities, and kept bringing very low fares to travellers.
"But the year is not over yet and we look forward to an even better second half with new hot and sizzling destinations and great low fares."
In February, the airline was the first in the region to open a second hub in Dubai, essentially making it the first and only low-cost airline in the city. Travellers flying from Dubai have the choice of 14 different destinations around the region, with direct flights to Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Salalah, Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.
The airline is poised for more growth, as it recently increased its order of new Airbus A320's from 10 to 40. All Jazeera Airways aircraft are fitted with its signature leather seats.