Wataniya Airways is born

A new era of aviation in the Gulf began with the announcement that Kuwait's new premium airline will be called Wataniya Airways.

Company Chairman Abdulsalam Al Bahar and Chief Executive George Cooper revealed the name and the distinctive new corporate identity and airline colours following the General Assembly of the company's holding company - Kuwait National Airways.

Wataniya Airways is the first short-haul premium airline to be launched anywhere in the world in the past several years and has been created to meet the specific needs of the Kuwaiti traveler - among the most travelled and discerning passengers in the world.

Services will commence from January 2009 and will offer a point to point service from Kuwait to destinations south and west of the country in the Gulf and Middle East - providing flight schedules and destinations that focus on Kuwaiti needs.

Unveiling the name and visual identity Wataniya Airways Chairman Abdulsalam Al Bahar said

"This is a very proud day for us and we are confident that Wataniya Airways will quickly become a new symbol of Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people. We selected the name Wataniya because we intend to be a truly national airline for Kuwaiti travelers.

Our commitment to Kuwait is also shown in the design and the colours we have chosen. On the tailfin of our aircraft we will feature that most potent and internationally known symbol of our country - the Kuwait Towers.

The research we have undertaken has shown that Kuwaitis prefer to fly when they can with an airline from their country and we believe having such a powerful image on our planes will reinforce that pride every time a Kuwaiti flies with Wataniya Airways.

In addition to its richness and Royal connotations, the colour purple we have chosen is also a provocative international reflection of the passion, commitment to evolution and leadership position we intend to secure in the short-haul premium airline sector in the region."

Wataniya Airways will start operations with a fleet of two Airbus A320 aircraft offering unparalleled room and comfort for all passengers with the lowest seat density of an A320 of any scheduled airline in the world. There will be a total of only 122 seats on the aircraft that will offer legroom and space that cannot be found on any comparable scheduled aircraft anywhere in the world.

Chief Executive George Cooper added

"This announcement is a major step towards ensuring Wataniya Airways becomes a unique premium airline that will deliver a truly outstanding service to our customers both in the air and on the ground.

We have a world-class team of aviation professionals who are now in place to deliver a new kind of flying experience to Kuwait and the region. It takes time to develop a quality product, but we now have the right people, the right product and the right business model for success.

The announcement of our name and brand identity today is just the start of the Wataniya Airways story. In the weeks and months ahead before we take to the air in January 2009, we will be announcing a series of innovations and developments that will make our airline not only unique in this region - but in many respects unique across the world."

One of Europe's leading brand consultancies, the Peter Schmidt Group, has been engaged for the development of the Wataniya Airways brand and corporate image. The company has wide ranging experience in the aviation industry and has worked in the past for Lufthansa, Germanwings and Air Madagascar.

"We are delighted with the quality of the work that the Peter Schmidt Group has undertaken to bring Wataniya Airways to life and bring a clear, distinctive and unique appearance to our brand. This new creative and unique visual identity will clearly help us to stand out and be clearly recognized across the region," added George Cooper.