Kuwait Airways to order 12 B 788s + 7 A 320s

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behramjee
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Kuwait Airways to order 12 B 788s + 7 A 320s

Post by behramjee »

Kuwait Airways plans to buy 12 Boeing Co. and seven Airbus planes from Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co. (ALAFCO) for about $3 billion, a Kuwait Airways official said on Monday.

The state-owned airline, which is looking to spend as much as $6 billion to replace its ageing fleet, will order the aircraft from the Kuwaiti lessor rather than the manufacturers so as to get them earlier, said the official, who did not want to be identified.

ALAFCO, which is majority owned by Islamic bank Kuwait Finance House, has standing orders for some of the aircraft Kuwait Airways is planning to buy, including 12 Boeing 787 Dreamliners for delivery in 2010, the official said.

The airline also plans to purchase seven single-aisle Airbus A320s from ALAFCO for delivery in 2009, and take options for seven more, the official said.

"We get the planes cheaper and quicker from ALAFCO," the official said, declining to be more specific.

Kuwait's al-Watan newspaper reported the planned order earlier on Monday.

Ahmad al-Zabin, ALAFCO's chief executive officer, could not immediately be reached for comment.

Kuwait Airways owns 11.5% of ALAFCO, which usually buys and leases out planes to airlines.

In March ALAFCO ordered 12 Boeing 787s and six 737-800s valued at $2.26 billion at list prices. In November it ordered six Airbus A320s.

Shares in ALAFCO closed 1.75% higher on Monday. Shares in Kuwait Finance House fell 1.5%.
Moin
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Post by Moin »

Its about time they updated their fleet. They've been stagnant for so long while their neighbours all around them are going on shop till you drop a/c buying sprees.
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malpensa26
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Post by malpensa26 »

livery change is long overdue :roll:
PK777
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Post by PK777 »

So does this mean Kuwait Airways will withdraw the Airbus A300 and Airbus A310 from their fleet once these B787 start to arrive. What is the fleet age of the A310 and A300s. The A300 have been with the airline for quite some time can they hold out till the B787 arrive?
behramjee
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Post by behramjee »

Yes the B 787s are primarily meant to fully replace the ageing AB6/A310 fleet which has been in service since 1992-93 for KU. Approximately these aircraft are 14-15 years old each.
PK777
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Post by PK777 »

So im assuming KU will continue using the A300/A310s for another 10 years until the B787 is delivered right? What are the cycles on the airbuses, are the good enough to go on for another couple of years?
behramjee
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Post by behramjee »

So im assuming KU will continue using the A300/A310s for another 10 years until the B787 is delivered right?
wrong another 2-3 years max as their B 788s are coming in 2009-10 from ALFALCO the acft leasing company that they own a stake in.
PK777
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Post by PK777 »

Since when has Kuwait Airways been operating the A332?

http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=648253
behramjee
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Post by behramjee »

KU has wet leased 1 or 2 A 332s seating 344 pax in a 2 class high density layout from Nouvair France.

They have been in KUs fleet since late April and fly the BOM-KWI-CAI routes mainly.
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smarties
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Post by smarties »

KU's A330 is leased from NOV AIR which is a Swedish charter airline. This particular A330 has 332 economy class seats and 24 business class seats.
"Now we're going round in circles, tell me will this deja vu never end?"
PK777
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Post by PK777 »

I see... I guess KU is using these to predict future passenger trends when they order the B787?
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raihans
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Post by raihans »

Alafco says 19-plane order with Kuwait Air cancelled

KUWAIT, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Kuwait's Aviation Lease and Finance Co (Alafco) said on Tuesday an initial agreement to supply 19 aircraft to state carrier Kuwait Airways had been cancelled.

'The letter of intent signed with Kuwait Airways to supply 19 aircraft is considered cancelled,' the firm said in a statement on the bourse Web site.

'Alafco received a letter from Kuwait Airways saying it has not obtained the necessary government approval to sign a final deal with Alafco,' it added.

Shares of Alafco plunged more than 7 percent after the news.

http://version2.arabtimesonline.com/cli ... 17&ccid=18
Raihan SR Bakhsh

flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, EK-B773, B77W, A388, FZ-B738, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, NL-A320, PK-B707/720, B733, B772, B77L, AB4, A310, A320, QR-A320, A321, A333, A359, A35X, B77W, B788, WY-B738, B739, A333
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raihans
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Post by raihans »

Also, from today's ARAB TIMES:

Image
Raihan SR Bakhsh

flickr.com/photos/raihanshahzad
EY-B77W, A345, A320, A319, EK-B773, B77W, A388, FZ-B738, GF-L1011, B732, A332, A320, A319, KU-A343, AB6, A310, A320, NL-A320, PK-B707/720, B733, B772, B77L, AB4, A310, A320, QR-A320, A321, A333, A359, A35X, B77W, B788, WY-B738, B739, A333
behramjee
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Post by behramjee »

They will easily find customers to lease the B 787s and A 320s to as both types of aircraft are in high demand worldwide.
PK777
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Post by PK777 »

This is really sad new! KU need to upgrade its fleet and invest in more marketing people. The airline from one the richest countires in the world is dwarfed by the Gulf carriers.. :cry: