Kuwaiti parliamentary rule agreement for Airbus deal

The airline had signed a provisional agreement to buy 25 Airbus aircraft and lease another 12, in a deal worth $4.4bn but then pulled out and re-opened the door to Boeing, before finally signing with Airbus.

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: “Kuwait Airways has been painfully slow to join the new airplane buying splurge that the GCC has become famed for. With the Airbus deal finally inked, the emphasis on expanding its network, developing codeshares and cutting costs has to be the order of the day.”

Ahmad added: “New jets like the A320neo and A350 will only be able to realise their cost saving potential if Kuwait Airways breaks free of its shackles, looks to its Arabian peers and look to emulate the corporate and financial success that they have reaped. And with Jazeera Airways rapidly growing regional market share out of Kuwait, Kuwait Airways has it all to do if it really wants to reinvigorate itself. It has been left far behind when you compare it to other GCC airlines - questions will surely be asked if the airline doesn't make a sustained and meaningful turnaround.”