PHOTO
09 January 2017
Wataniya Airways, the Kuwaiti carrier which shut down in 2011 after three years in business, is reportedly set to restart flights in mid-2017, according to local Arabic daily, Al Qabas.
The airline is close to signing deals with international aircraft leasing companies and will start operations with three to four aircraft to regional destinations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Dubai and India, the report said.
The decision to restart flights follows the company’s settlement of debt talks with Kuwait Airways’ Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO). The carrier’s legal claims with Kuwait’s Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) are still under review in Kuwaiti court with no final ruling issued yet, the report added.
The newspaper’s sources noted that the carrier has finalised the recruitment of administrative staff and is currently receiving applications for cabin crew.
The sources added that the two Kuwaiti airlines will work closely together. Kuwait Airways has agreed to refer customers to Wataniya Airways if the new airline flies to destinations not operated by the national carrier, and vice versa.
Al Tuwaijri Group is currently the biggest owner of Wataniya Airways and the carrier was publicly traded at Kuwait Stock Exchange, with around 28,000 shareholders.
(Writing by Nada Al Rifai)
© Zawya 2017
Wataniya Airways, the Kuwaiti carrier which shut down in 2011 after three years in business, is reportedly set to restart flights in mid-2017, according to local Arabic daily, Al Qabas.
The airline is close to signing deals with international aircraft leasing companies and will start operations with three to four aircraft to regional destinations, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Dubai and India, the report said.
The decision to restart flights follows the company’s settlement of debt talks with Kuwait Airways’ Kuwait Aviation Services Company (KASCO). The carrier’s legal claims with Kuwait’s Aviation Lease and Finance Company (ALAFCO) are still under review in Kuwaiti court with no final ruling issued yet, the report added.
The newspaper’s sources noted that the carrier has finalised the recruitment of administrative staff and is currently receiving applications for cabin crew.
The sources added that the two Kuwaiti airlines will work closely together. Kuwait Airways has agreed to refer customers to Wataniya Airways if the new airline flies to destinations not operated by the national carrier, and vice versa.
Al Tuwaijri Group is currently the biggest owner of Wataniya Airways and the carrier was publicly traded at Kuwait Stock Exchange, with around 28,000 shareholders.
(Writing by Nada Al Rifai)
© Zawya 2017
