Kuwait Airways
IATA KU	ICAO KAC	Callsign KUWAITI
Founded		1954
Hubs		Kuwait International Airport
Frequent flyer program		Oasis Club
Member lounge		Oasis Club
Fleet size		18
Destinations		42
Headquarters		Kuwait City, Kuwait
Key people		Shiekh Talal Mubarak Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah (CEO)
Website: http://www.kuwait-airways.com

Kuwait Airways (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية الكويتية) is the national airline of Kuwait, based in Kuwait City and wholly owned by the Kuwaiti Government. It operates scheduled international services throughout the Middle East, to Europe, the Far East and North America. Its main base is Kuwait International Airport.^[1] Kuwait Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 445 pixelsFull resolution (1192 × 663 pixel, file size: 45 KB, MIME type: image/png)Kuwait Airways logo, claiming fair use. ... IATA airline designators, sometimes called IATA reservation codes, are two-character codes assigned by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to the worlds airlines in accordance with the provisions of Resolution 762. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with ICAO airline code. ... Most airlines employ a distinctive and internationally recognised call sign that is normally spoken during airband radio transmissions as a prefix to the flight number. ... An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. ... Kuwait International Airport is located in Al-Maqwa, Kuwait, near Kuwait City. ... Membership cards of FFP This article is about airline frequent flyer programs. ... The lounge at ZRH, Switzerland An airport lounge is a lounge owned by a particular airline (or jointly operated by several carriers). ... Kuwait City Kuwait City (also Al-Kuwait - الكويت), population 32,403 (2005 Census), is the capital of the emirate of Kuwait and part of the Al-Asimah governorate. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ... Arabic ( or just ) is the largest living member of the Semitic language family in terms of speakers. ... An Airbus A380 of Emirates Airline An airline provides air transport services for passengers or freight. ... Kuwait City Kuwait City (also Al-Kuwait - الكويت), population 32,403 (2005 Census), is the capital of the emirate of Kuwait and part of the Al-Asimah governorate. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... The far east as a cultural block includes East Asia, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia and South Asia. ... North America North America is a continent[1] in the Earths northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. ... Kuwait International Airport is located in Al-Maqwa, Kuwait, near Kuwait City. ... The Arab Air Carriers Organization (Arabic: الإتحاد العربي للنقل الجوي) is a regional airline trade organization of Arab airlines established in 1965 by the League of Arab States (more commonly known as the Arab League). ...

[edit] History

^{[citation needed]}

Kuwait Airways Boeing 777

The airline was conceived in February 1953 by two Kuwaiti businessmen and was established in March 1954. It started operations on 16 March 1954 as Kuwait National Airways. The current name was established in 1958, and that year saw a modernization of the fleet. In the 1970s, the airline further expanded its routes to include flights within the Middle East. Kuwait Airways Boeing 777-200 (9K-AOB) landing at London (Heathrow) Airport. ... Kuwait Airways Boeing 777-200 (9K-AOB) landing at London (Heathrow) Airport. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1954 (MCMLIV) was a common year (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ...

The airline was heavily affected by the Gulf War with many planes having to leave due to the invasion. During the occupation, operations were transferred to Bahrain. The carrier, however, flew a free Kuwait Airways service on the Bombay-Bahrain-Cairo-London route in a modified livery with a Boeing 727. Bahrain served as operational headquarters during the occupation. The aftermath of the war saw a change in composition of fleet. In 2005, Kuwait Airways signed an agreement with Sabre Airline Solutions giving Kuwait Airways full access to a modernized planning and crew optimizing portfolio. Combatants United States Saudi Arabia & US-led Coalition Republic of Iraq Commanders Norman Schwarzkopf Saddam Hussein Strength 883,863 360,000 Casualties 240 killed in action, 776 wounded in action, 30 taken prisoner Est. ... This article or section should be merged with Mumbai Mumbai (previously known as Bombay) is the worlds most populous conurbation, and is the sixth most populous agglomeration in the world. ... Nickname: Egypt: Site of Cairo (top center) Coordinates: , Government  - Governor Dr. Abdul Azim Wazir Area  - City 214 km²  (82. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine commercial jet airliner. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sabre Airline Solutions is a subsidiary of Sabre Holdings. ...

While Kuwait Airways was the first airline created by an Arab state in the Persian Gulf, today it is finding it very difficult to compete with emerging neighboring airlines such as Qatar Airways and Emirates that provide exceptional services. Qatar Airways (Arabic: القطرية) is an airline based in Doha, Qatar. ... Emirates (Arabic: الإمارات al-Imārāt) is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ...

The airline has 3,735 employees (at March 2007).^[1] Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

In 2006 Kuwait Airways was the final flight scheduled to depart the old Don Mueang International Airport, Bangkok at 2:50am on September 28 that year (in actuality, a Qantas flight originally scheduled for 6pm the previous day left 10 minutes after the Kuwait flight due to delays).This flight, an A-340-313X actually lifted off from runway 21 Right at exactly 03:00, the official time of closure at Don Mueang). Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Don Mueang (International) Airport (IATA: DMK, ICAO: VTBD) (or also (Old) Bangkok International Airport) (Thai: , also Don Muang) is an airport in Bangkok, Thailand. ... A BTS skytrain passing the Sathon area of Bangkok. ... is the 271st day of the year (272nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Qantas (Qantas Airways Limited) (pronounced ) is the name and callsign of the national airline of Australia. ...

[edit] Hijackings in the 1980s

• During the Iran-Iraq War, Kuwait Airways was the target of two hijackings. ^[2] The first was in 1984, when two Lebanese Shi'a gunmen diverted a flight to Tehran. The stand-off took six days but finally Iranian security officers dressed as staff overpowered the hijackers.
• In 1988 a Kuwait Airways Boeing was hijacked and diverted to Algiers while on its way to Kuwait from Bangkok. The hijacking lasted 16 days and ended with a Naval Officer from the Kuwaiti Royal Family being killed along with another Kuwaiti military person. The Algerian authorities allowed the hijackers to escape in exchange for the remainder of the 110 people aboard to be set free. ^{[citation needed]}

Combatants  Iran Iraq Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini, Abolhassan Banisadr, Ali Shamkhani, Mostafa Chamran Saddam Hussein, Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters[1] 190,000 soldiers 5,000 tanks 4... Year 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar). ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661 ) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Boeing. ... “Alger” redirects here. ... A BTS skytrain passing the Sathon area of Bangkok. ... The Al-Sabah (Arabic: الصباح) are the ruling Family of Kuwait. ...

[edit] Destinations

see full article: Kuwait Airways destinations. This is a list of airports Kuwait Airways flies to. ...

[edit] Code Share

• Beijing operated through Air China.
• Kiev operated through Ukraine International Airlines.

Beijing (Chinese: 北京; pinyin: BÄ›ijÄ«ng; Wade-Giles: Peiching or Pei-ching; IPA: ; literally Northern capital;  ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Not to be confused with China Airlines, the national airline of the Republic of China (Taiwan). ... Map of Ukraine with Kiev highlighted Coordinates: , Country Ukraine Oblast Kiev City Municipality Raion Municipality Government  - Mayor Leonid Chernovetskyi Elevation 179 m (587 ft) Population (2006)  - City 4,450,968  - Density 3,299/km² (8,544. ... Ukraine International Airlines (Ukrainian: Міжнародні Авіалінії України, Mizhnarodni Avialiniyi Ukrayiny, ) is a state airline based in Kiev, Ukraine. ...

[edit] Fleet

Kuwait Airways Airbus A340

The Kuwait Airways fleet includes the following aircraft (as of May 2007): ^{[citation needed]} Kuwait Airways Airbus A340-300 (9K-AND) landing at London (Heathrow) Airport in August 2004. ... Kuwait Airways Airbus A340-300 (9K-AND) landing at London (Heathrow) Airport in August 2004. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

• 5 Airbus A300-605R
• 4 Airbus A340-313X
• 3 Airbus A310-308
• 3 Airbus A320-211
• 2 Boeing 777 -200ER
• 1 Airbus A330-223 (on lease from Nova Air)
• 1 Boeing 747-469 Combi (reserved for VIP, occasionally used for scheduled passenger services)
• 7 Airbus 320-211 (Order cancelled 28/8/2007)
• 12 Airbus 350-800 (Order cancelled 28/8/2007)

As of 18 June 2007, ALAFCO has confirmed to buy 7 Airbus A320 and 12 Airbus A350. They will be leased to Kuwait Airways. It is unclear what the status is of an earlier mentioned Boeing 787 order. Kuwait Airways is said to buy 27 new aircraft over a period of 10 to 15 years, starting from 2009. In addition, the carrier also announced that it will purchase 2 Boeing 747-400 from Air India. These aircraft are 12 year old planes. Air India is eager to give off its decade-old aircraft to Kuwait Airways. Air India may also give Kuwait Airways 3 Airbus A310-300, which are 18 to 20 years old as it acquires a Boeing fleet.^{[3] [4]} The Airbus A300 is a short to medium range widebody aircraft. ... The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engined widebody commercial passenger airliner manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. a subsidiary of EADS. It is similar in design to the twin-engined A330. ... The Airbus A310 is a medium to long-range widebody airliner manufactured by Airbus S.A.S. It was Airbus second model to be introduced, and is a shortened derivative of the A300. ... The Airbus A320 family of short-to-medium range commercial passenger aircraft are manufactured by Airbus S.A.S.. Family members include the A318, A319, A320, and A321, as well as the ACJ business jet. ... The Boeing 777 is an American long-range wide-body twin-engine airliner built by Boeings Commercial Airplanes division. ... The Airbus A330 is a large-capacity, wide-body, medium-to-long-range commercial passenger airliner manufactured by EADS (Airbus S.A.S.). It was developed at the same time as the four-engined A340. ... The Boeing 747, commonly nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, is a long-haul, widebody commercial airliner manufactured by Boeing. ... The Airbus A320 is a short to medium range commercial passenger aircraft manufactured by Airbus. ... “A350” redirects here. ... The Airbus A320 family of short-to-medium range commercial passenger aircraft are manufactured by Airbus S.A.S.. Family members include the A318, A319, A320, and A321, as well as the ACJ business jet. ... “A350” redirects here. ... The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American mid-sized, wide-body, twin engine jet airliner currently in production by Boeings Commercial Airplanes division and scheduled to enter service in May 2008. ...

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Kuwait Airways

• Kuwait Airways

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ...

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-03, p. 103. 
2. ^ BBC News
3. ^ Airbus
4. ^ Flight Global