HAMBURG: A
delegation from Kuwait Airways arrived in the German city of Hamburg yesterday
to receive the airliner's first Airbus A320neo on August 29, part of a
28-aircraft contract with the European manufacturer. The delegation, headed by
Kuwait Airways board chairman Yusuf Al-Jassem, will visit Airbus plant to get
acquainted with latest aircraft technologies, as well as holding meetings with
Airbus executives. The delegation will officially receive the Airbus A320neo on
Thursday and then fly back to Kuwait on Friday.

The National
Carrier Kuwait Airways has been linked to air transport cooperation
relationship with European multinational aerospace corporation Airbus since
1983, when it added its first Airbus A310 aircraft to its fleet. Their
cooperation has seen significant progress and development over the years not
only in aircraft purchase, but also in maintenance procedures and training
courses provided to Kuwait Airways' staff. Airbus is considered to be one of
Kuwait Airways fleet's main suppliers of various types of aircrafts as it holds
an elite status among best plane suppliers in the world.

The Kuwaiti
national carrier enjoys an eminent place among international air transport companies
as its persistent cooperation with the European aerospace corporation proves
the success of their relationship. The two companies began their cooperation in
September 1983, when the Kuwaiti national carrier needed to update its fleet in
order to expand its route network amid increasing demand for air traveling at
that time. It has replaced a number of its old planes with a new generation of
two-engine aircrafts, known for their lower noise and fuel consumption.

Such a
significant step led the Kuwaiti national carrier, also known for its 'Blue
Bird' tag, to be at the forefront of regional and international air transport
companies, and enabled it to expand its route network even further. A total of
six Airbus A310-200s were ordered to replace the Boeing 707s on routes to Asia,
Europe, and the Middle East, with deliveries starting in 1983. Five more A310
aircraft were added to the order late that year and early 1984.During the Iraqi
invasion of the country in 1990, Kuwait Airways suffered devastating damages
and massive looting of its aircrafts, replacement parts, plane engines,
equipment, modern air devices, and galley.

Following
Kuwait's liberation in 1991, the government rebuilt the national carrier
company and made a key plan to expand its operations and fleets around the
world, purchasing 18 new aircrafts as a result, 15 of which Airbus type, in
1992 to boost its operating profits and increase incomes. At that time, Kuwait
Airways was the first Arab air transport company to buy the full collection of
modern Airbus planes with state of the art technology for a total of $984
million, receiving them all in November 1992.

In December 2013,
Kuwait Airways signed a contract with Airbus to purchase 25 types of A350 and
A320neo, and to rent 12 planes of A330 and A320 pending delivery of the new
aircraft. The two sides amended the contract to include 28 aircraft which
Kuwait Airways would be receiving up until 2026, by which Kuwait Airways would
have a total of 38 planes - five A350-900, eight A300-800neo, 15 A32neo and 10
Boeing 777-300 ER. In October 2018, Kuwait Airways amended a pre-existing
commitment with Airbus for 10 A350-900s by reducing it to five of these
aircraft, and ordered eight Airbus A330-800neos. Currently, Kuwait Airways'
fleet has 25 aircrafts, 15 of which are Airbus type. The national carrier's
route network includes 47 destination around the world.

Established in 1969,
Airbus is one of the major aircraft manufacturing and selling corporations in
the world. It launched the world's first twin-engine passenger jet, the A300,
in that same year. Based in France, Airbus fully owns subsidiaries in the
United States, China, Japan, India, and the Middle East region. It also
operates training centers in various world countries and has over 150 service
offices around the world. Kuwait Airways was established in 1953 as a private
company under the name of 'Kuwait National Airlines Limited.' The government of
Kuwait acquired 100 percent ownership in 1962 and has about 40 destinations
worldwide.