Kuwait Airways

Kuwait Airways (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية الكويتية Al-Khutout Al-Jawwiya Al-Kuwaitiyah‎) is the national airline of Kuwait, with its head office on the grounds of Kuwait International Airport, Al Farwaniyah Governorate. It operates scheduled international services throughout the Middle East, to the Indian subcontinent, Europe, Southeast Asia and North America, from its main base at Kuwait International Airport.^[1] Kuwait Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

History

The Kuwait Airways Company was formed in 1954 during a time of rapid prosperity for its nation. Kuwait Airways initially served a limited network of Abadan, Beirut, Damascus and Jerusalem. In its second year the fledgling carrier was facing economic hardship, and the government of Kuwait took a 50% interest in the airline, subsequently doubling the company's capital. The government later increased its shareholding to 100%.

Kuwait Airways entered the jet age in 1962 by leasing a Comet 4-C, the world's first jet-engined airliner. In the 1960s, the national carrier rapidly expanded its route map, and scheduled service to London began three times per week. To keep pace with fast-moving aviation needs, three Boeing 707s were delivered in 1968. Ten years later, Kuwait Airways had an all -Boeing 707 fleet of eight aircraft.

In 1978, Kuwait Airways entered the wide-body age by taking delivery of its first two B747-200s, adding a third the following year. This expansion permitted Kuwait Airways to extend its network to New York to the west and Manila to the east.

Modernization of the fleet continued, and four Boeing 727 were delivered in 1980-1981. Two years later eight Airbus A310 and Airbus A300-600 were delivered, and in 1986 three Boeing 767-200ER aircraft joined the wide-body fleet.

Following the destruction of its premises and 42 of its aircraft during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the airline was relaunched. Kuwait Airways fleet now comprises three A320-200, three A310-300, five A300-605R, four A340-300 and two Boeing 777-200ER, bringing the fleet to 17 aircraft.

Kuwait Airways aims to re-establish its network to reach more than 47 countries around the globe with a firm commitment to providing the finest service and comfort to passengers while continuing to rank safety as one of highest priorities.

The airline had 5,915 employees in March 2009.^[1]

In October 2007, the new CEO pledged that the airline should be privatised in order for it to compete efficiently against other airlines. He says that the airline will encounter difficulty in advancing, especially in fleet renewal, without the privatisation.^[2]

Hijackings in the 1980s

During the Iran–Iraq War, Kuwait Airways was the target of two hijackings.^[3] The first was a London, England to Karachi, Pakistan flight on December 1, 1984. The flight took off from London-Heathrow making a stop-over in Kuwait before continuing the journey to the final destination in Karachi, Pakistan. During the second part of the flight, two Lebanese Shi'a gunmen diverted the plane to Tehran. The hijackers were armed with guns and explosives and there was gunfire on the plane while it was in flight. The hijackers wanted to take the plane to Lebanon and negotiated the re-fuelling in exchange for all the women and children on the flight. The stand-off took six days but finally Iranian security officers dressed as staff overpowered the hijackers.

In April 1988 a Kuwait Airways Boeing 747 was hijacked and diverted to Algiers while on its way to Kuwait from Bangkok. The hijacking lasted 16 days and ended with a Kuwaiti firefighter being killed along with another Kuwaiti military person. This occurred when the plane stopped in Cyprus for two or three days, where the government of Cyprus was not able to save the two persons killed. Then it moved to Algeria where the hijacker's demands were satisfied and where the 110 remaining passengers were released.

Important dates

• 1954: Kuwait National Airways Company (KNAC) is formed.
• 1955: The company is renamed Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) as the government acquires a half interest.
• 1962: The Kuwaiti government buys the remainder of Kuwait Airways Corporation's shares; the first jets enter the fleet.
• 1978: Kuwait Airways Corporation receives its first Boeing 747 jumbo jet.
• 1983: Airbus jets replace Boeings in the short and medium range fleet.
• 1990: Most of Kuwait Airways Corporation's assets are lost in the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait; operations continue from the Cairo base.
• 1995: The Oasis frequent flyer club is introduced.
• 2008: Kuwait Airways Corporation is being restructured in preparation for privatization.
• 2010: Kuwait Airways Corporation is half privatized. Fully privatization is expected in 2011.
• December 2011: Kuwait Airways Corporation is expected to be fully privatized.

Corporate affairs and identity

Headquarters

The Kuwait Airways headquarters is located on the grounds of Kuwait International Airport in Al Farwaniyah Governorate, Kuwait. The 42,000 square metres (450,000 sq ft) head office was built for 15.8 million Kuwaiti dinars (US $ 53.6 million). Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Co. served as the main contractor. The headquarters, built in 48 months, was constructed from 1992 to 1996. The construction of the head office was the first time that structural glazing for curtain walls was used in the State of Kuwait.^[4] The previous headquarters was on the grounds of the airport.^[5]

Privatization

On January 9, 2008 the National Assembly of Kuwait approved the plan^[6] to turn Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC) into a private shareholding company. The plan was approved by 50 Members of Parliament while four MPs voted against the sale. The privatization will now proceed.

The plan is to privatize KAC in 2010. The A310-300 and A320-200 will be withdrawn and will be the replaced with seven new A320-200s and the new Boeing 787-8 in later 2011. Kuwait Airways had also planned to have more than 80 destinations from 2012.

Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) has formed the foundation committee^[7] for the privatization of Kuwait Airways Corporation (KAC), the foundation committee started the work immediately after signing the decision, noting that transferring the assets of KAC and its subsidiaries to KIA will take more than four months, thereby KAC will officially become a shareholding company. The most serious challenge facing the committee is transferring the KAC employees, many Kuwaitis do not want to work for KAC once it becomes a shareholding company. The employees will need to be moved to the public sector without affecting their financial privileges according to the law. KIA will restructure KAC and develop it financially and administratively in order sell it at a “good price.”

Subsidiaries and alliances

Kuwait Airways has several subsidiaries that are considered large companies in Kuwait's Market. These companies are going through a similar privatization process as KAC.

• Kuwait Aviation Services Co. (KASCO)
• Automated Systems Co. (ASC, شركة الأنظمـــــة الآلية,الأنظمة) GDS provider since 1989
• ALAFCO

Kuwait Airways also went in to alliances with several airlines to keep up with demand and to continue its operations during the 1990 War.

• Shorouk Airways (ceased operation 2003)
• Jet Airways (India)
• Trans World Airlines (began December 1, 1999 with code share between JFK and Chicago to Kuwait City)

Destinations

As of September 2009, Kuwait Airways flies to 39 international destinations in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America from its hub at Kuwait International Airport.^[8]

Codeshare agreements

• Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance)
• Etihad Airways
• Saudi Arabian Airlines (future SkyTeam member)
• Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)

Fleet

The Kuwait Airways fleet includes the following aircraft (as of October 2010), with an average age of 15.8 years:^[9]

^{* on direct flights between JFK and KWI. ** configuration changes from time to time according to VIP request.}

Kuwait Airways also operate aircraft for official State business. The fleet has a Kuwait Airways inspired livery with State of Kuwait titles, and is composed of one A300-600, one A310-300, one A319, one A320, two A340-500 and one 747-8BBJ on order.

The sole 747-400M, though part of the state fleet, is used by KU for their own services as well, therefore it carries full livery of the airline with an official state seal next to the title. This aircraft's upper deck is in VIP configuration. The main deck is configured for split business/economy seating. This aircraft is used on high density routes like India and Egypt when required. Use of the 747 is not restricted to premium routes to Europe or USA.

Incidents and Accidents

• During 1990 when Iraq invaded Kuwait,10 planes belonging to Kuwait Airways were allegedly stolen and taken to the grounds of Baghdad International Airport and from there they were stored at Mosul Airport in Iraq. Fearing an air strike in Iraq, Saddam Hussein sent these planes to Iran. Out of 10 planes,4 were completely destroyed and 6 were returned to Kuwait Airways by the Iranians in 1992.

• On April 5, 1988, Kuwait Airways Flight 422 was hijacked from Bangkok to Kuwait with 111 passengers and crew aboard. Three members of the Kuwaiti Royal Family. Six or seven Lebanon men, including Hassan Izzeldine, a veteran of the TWA 847 hijacking armed with guns and hand grenades forced the pilot to land in Mashhad, Iran and demanded the release of 17 Shiite Muslims guerrillas held in Kuwait. Lasting 16 days and traveling 3,200-miles from Mashhad in northeastern Iran to Larnaca, Cyprus, and finally to Algiers, it is the longest skyjacking to date. Two passengers, Abdullah Khalidi, 25, and Khalid Ayoub Bandar, 20, both Kuwaitis, were shot to death by the hijackers and dumped on the tarmac in Cyprus.Kuwait did not release the 17 prisoners, and the hijackers were allowed to leave Algiers.

• On December 3, 1984, a Kuwait Airways flight from Kuwait City to Karachi Pakistan was hijacked by four Lebanese Shi'a hijackers and diverted to Tehran. The hijackers demand was the release of the Kuwait 17, which was not met. During the course of the standoff women, children and Muslims were released and two American officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development, Charles Hegna and William Stanford, were shot dead and dumped on the tarmac. The few dozen passengers left on board, particularly Americans were threatened and tortured. "Every five minutes there was a frightening incident. There was no letup at all," British flight engineer Neil Beeston told the BBC.Paradoxically the hijackers released a statement claiming "We do not have any enmity toward anyone and we do not intend to deny the freedom of anyone or to frighten anyone..." On the sixth day of the drama, Iranian security forces stormed the plane and released the remaining hostages. Authorities said they would be brought to trial, but the hijackers were released and allowed to leave the country. Some passengers and officials suggested complicity by Iran in the hijacking and that the hostage rescue had been staged. One Kuwaiti and two Pakistani passengers claimed that the hijackers received additional weapons and equipment once the plane had landed, including handcuffs and nylon ropes used to tie passengers to their seats.[33] One American official wondered if the surrender was not preplanned: "You do not invite cleaners aboard an airplane after you have planted explosives, promised to blow up the plane, and read your last will and testament." The U.S. State Department announced a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of those involved in the hijacking, but made no military response. Later press reports linked Hezbollah's Imad Mughniyah to the hijackings.

References

External links

• Official website