KUWAIT: The Kuwait Airways said it will not bow to any pressure or attempts at extortion to serve the personal interest of some individuals at the expense of people, and asked everyone to be truthful and responsible and focus on the country's higher interests. The statement issued by the KAC was in response to statements by MP Saad Al-Bous about suspicions of profiteering in the purchase and leasing of several aircrafts for the KAC.
The company said that the statement included dangerous claims, charges and warnings to minister of communications and state minister for housing affairs Salem Al-Athena and KAC management about there being suspected profiteering in the KAC aircraft purchase contract. It said such allegations harmed the reputation of this national company's management. "As much as we respect the National Assembly members, and appreciate their national mission in all issues, we felt harmed and insulted by the statements of MP Saad Al-Bous, who preferred his own personal interest over the public's, which raises many questions about his motives," the statement said. About the statements of MP Saad Al-Bous, the company said it would like to explain to the public that MP Saad Al-Bous submitted an offer as the General Manager of Jisr Al-Salam General Trading and Contracting Company to sell and lease several aircraft to the KAC and was told then that the offer will be studied along with other offers from other companies.
When his offer was reviewed by the authorized committee, it was found that the prices he quoted were so exaggerated that these were twice the prices set by manufacturing companies and other leasing companies.
This would have been a violation of public funds to satiate personal gains. "This made us negotiate directly with the manufacturer without middlemen to reach the best offer possible to avoid any profiteering suspicion," the statement said. Comparing MP Saad Al-Bous offer with that of the company that was contracted for the lease, KAC said it clinched the deal at a price of $370,000 to lease the aircraft per month, while Al-Bous offered $1.87 million to lease the same type of aircraft which is A430. The KAC also decided on a price of $680,000 for the A330 aircraft, while Al-Bous price for the same was $1.32 million.
The A320 aircraft was offered for $300,000 by the contracted company while Al-Bous Company offered it at $605,000. This means the price difference between the contracted company and that of MP Al-Bous was about one billion dollars per month, and several billions within one year. Meanwhile, Director of Operations at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation Essam Al- Zamil said the Civil Aviation approved the operation of 95 flights by carriers operating at the Kuwait Airport for this year's summer holidays from July 1 till October 1, 2013. Al-Zamil said that Middle East Airlines was the first with 66 extra flights, while Al-Arabiya has 27. Fly Dubai and Emirates have one extra flight each.
He said that Kuwait Airport was ready for the summer season to ensure smooth entry and exit of passengers by increasing the number of employees and counters. He said there will also be barriers to keep well wishers from obstructing passengers inside the arrival and departure halls.
© Kuwait Times 2013
