ISTANBUL: Kuwait Airways is set to receive next month between five to six Airbus A320 aircrafts as part of the airline's plan to provide quality services to its clientele. The national carrier will own a total of 28 Airbus A320 by next year, its Chairman Yousef Al-Jassem said as he toured Istanbul's new airport, where he held talks with officials from IGA; the consortium building and operating the sprawling facility. On his visit to Istanbul, he said it was a step towards stronger aviation ties between Kuwait and Turkey, ahead of a planned "partnership deal" Kuwait's flag carrier seeks to clinch with IGA. The agreement primarily entails airport services, the official divulged, describing Turkey as a hotspot that has long beguiled Kuwaiti travelers, a fact he attributed to the commonalities both nations share.
The Kuwaiti official's visit is crucial to push aviation ties, according to IGA's Chairman Murat Sumutcu, who pointed out that it was in the best interest of both countries. He added that the Kuwaiti delegation got a firsthand look at the cutting-edge technology employed by the new mega airport, which has already begun serving 16 million people. Kuwait's Consul General in Istanbul Mohammad Al-Mohammad emphasized the importance of closer aviation ties as well, given the fact that the number of Kuwaitis to have visited Turkey has increased exponentially. Kuwait's national carrier is offering daily flights to Turkey all summer long as part of a newly revamped itinerary.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines announced yesterday that it inked a code sharing agreement with Kuwait Airways. The Turkish Airlines said in a press release yesterday that the agreement would be applicable for joint flights from Kuwait International Airport and the airports of Istanbul and Sabiha Gokcen. The accord was signed at the Turkish Airlines headquarters in Istanbul. The inking ceremony was attended by Director General of the Turkish Airlines Bilal Eksi and Kuwait Airways Chairman Jassem. It will allow the two sides to reach new destinations via each other's networks. - KUNA