Jazeera Airways to launch Kuwait-London Gatwick services

Jazeera Airways will begin flights from Kuwait City to London Gatwick using an Airbus A320neo this year. The Kuwait-based carrier said. Thanks to the aircraft’s additional range, the flying radius from Kuwait has increased to 6.5 hrs.

Jazeera took delivery of the Middle East’s first A320neo in June 2018; three more of the type will arrive this year.

The carrier also has plans to expand its network to new destinations in Europe, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Gulf and India this year.

Jazeera Airways chairman Marwan Boodai said routes between India and Kuwait have been underserved and competing regional airlines offering one-stop connectivity between Kuwait and India have historically taken the market share from its local customer base.

“The carrier’s strategy to expand with direct flights between both countries has satisfied a latent demand in the market and provided direct flights between both countries,” he stated in the company’s 2018 annual report.

Jazeera operates a fleet of nine Airbus A320ceos/neos to 27 destinations in the Middle East, India and Europe.

CEO Rohit Ramachandran said aircraft utilization was optimized by 29.5% in 2018 compared to the previous year and has now reached 13:6 hours per day, per aircraft.