Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
Kuwait Airways is moving forward with its plans to grow, even though it is facing some serious challenges. The national airline of Kuwait wants to become one of the top airlines in the Gulf region. It is working on increasing the number of planes it owns and improving the services it offers to passengers. However, the airline is also dealing with problems such as delays in receiving new planes and political tensions in the region that affect travel.
New Planes Expected Soon
The Chairman of Kuwait Airways’ Board, Abdulmohsen Al-Fagaan, said that the airline will receive a new Airbus A321neo plane by the end of this month. He also announced that two Airbus A330-900neo planes will arrive before the end of this year. Once these aircraft are added, the total number of planes in Kuwait Airways’ fleet will reach 30 by the end of 2025. Currently, the airline operates 27 planes.
Strategy for Service Improvement
Al-Fagaan explained that Kuwait Airways has a clear and detailed strategic plan for the future. He said the airline is already seeing positive changes from this plan. One of the main goals is to improve the quality of service for passengers. This means making flights more comfortable, efficient, and pleasant.
Building Strong Partnerships
As part of its plan, Kuwait Airways is partnering with other companies to make its services better. These include Saudi Railways, Saudi Airlines, and Amadeus. Amadeus is a well-known company that provides technology solutions for the aviation industry. These partnerships can help Kuwait Airways improve how it sells tickets, manages flights, and handles passengers.
Target to Increase Passengers
Kuwait Airways wants to carry more passengers in the coming years. In 2024, the airline carried over four million passengers. The goal is to increase this number to 5.5 million passengers in 2025. This is a big target, but it has become harder to achieve because of the delays in getting new planes and because political tensions in some countries make it difficult to operate flights there.
Delays Affect Financial Targets
The airline had planned to break even financially by 2025. Breaking even means the airline would earn as much money as it spends, avoiding losses. But now this goal is in danger because of the delivery delays and other problems. Al-Fagaan explained that this is not just a problem for Kuwait Airways. Many airlines around the world are facing the same issue with delayed deliveries of aircraft.
Fleet Reduction and Its Impact
The delivery delays have forced Kuwait Airways to reduce the number of planes it uses. At one point, the airline was operating only 23 aircraft instead of the planned number. This reduction in fleet size has a direct effect on how many flights the airline can run and how many passengers it can carry. It also reduces the amount of money the airline can make.
Original Fleet Plan Affected
Kuwait Airways had originally planned to have 33 aircraft by 2024. However, because of the delays and the return of leased planes, this plan was not possible. The airline is now working to slowly increase the number of planes in the coming years.
Airbus Compensation in Credits
To make up for the delays, Airbus has given Kuwait Airways compensation. However, this payment is not in cash. Instead, it is in the form of credits that can be used for buying spare parts for planes, staff training, or other services that the airline needs.
Al-Fagaan said, “They have been paid — it’s not cash, but credit. You use it to buy spare parts, training, or other things. It’s a good amount of money.”
No Financial Results Shared
During the press conference after the company’s annual general meeting, Kuwait Airways did not share its financial results for 2024. The airline did not reveal whether it made a profit or loss during the year.
Audit Bureau Observations
Al-Fagaan said that Kuwait Airways is committed to addressing all concerns raised by the State Audit Bureau. This government body checks the financial and administrative work of state-owned companies.
Previously, there were 16 financial violations recorded for the airline. Now, this number has been reduced to seven, which are still under investigation. The company’s board is working to fix these issues and ensure that operations are transparent and follow proper rules.
Past Problems with Contracts
In earlier years, Kuwait Airways faced problems with its contracts. One example was a contract with Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO). This contract raised concerns about poor financial oversight. After a government review, the airline decided to cancel the contract in 2024.
Issues with Anniversary Expenses
The airline also found problems with how money was spent on its 65th anniversary celebration. Some expenses were higher than they should have been, and some sponsorship claims did not have proper supporting documents. These issues raised questions about how the airline was managing its money at the time.
Efforts to Improve Governance
Although Al-Fagaan did not share full details about the current violations, he assured that the airline is working to fix all problems openly. The goal is to improve governance — meaning the way the company is managed — and to make sure that all financial matters are handled properly.
Focus on the Future
Despite the challenges, Kuwait Airways is looking ahead with confidence. The new planes coming in 2025 will help the airline operate more flights and carry more passengers. Partnerships with other companies will make services better, and the focus on fixing financial problems will strengthen the airline’s reputation.
Commitment to Passengers
Kuwait Airways is also focusing on passenger satisfaction. With better services, more comfortable flights, and advanced technology, the airline hopes to attract more travelers and compete strongly with other Gulf carriers.
Kuwait Airways is facing delays in receiving new planes and political tensions in some of its destinations. These issues have made it harder to achieve goals such as carrying 5.5 million passengers in 2025 and breaking even financially. However, the airline is determined to keep moving forward.
New planes, partnerships, and a commitment to improving governance are key parts of its strategy. Even though it has faced financial problems in the past, Kuwait Airways is working to fix them and become a stronger and more trusted airline in the Gulf region.
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